international
EU exit would bring referendum
In her speech at the Scottish National Party's annual conference yesterday, the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, did not say whether the party's programme for the May elections will include demands for a new referendum, admitting that it would only make sense if there were “strong and consistent evidence of a change in public opinion and that independence has become the choice of a clear majority. In that case, we would have no right to dismiss it”. After this warning to those keen to hold a new referendum, she reminded David Cameron that “last year, you told the Scots the only way to protect our membership in the EU was no vote no”, but if Westminster took Scotland out of the EU against its wishes, the demand for a second referendum would be unstoppable, she said.