During an interview with the PA news agency, Yousaf acknowledged that his party has faced difficulties in recent weeks and months, particularly in light of the controversy surrounding an investigation into alleged irregularities in campaign funding for a second independence referendum.
Nevertheless, Yousaf stated, “Even with those challenges, support for independence is absolutely rock solid. I believe the best decisions about Scotland are made by the people in Scotland.”
Looking ahead, Yousaf emphasized that the upcoming general election will prioritize the issue of independence. He expressed the belief that the impasse on this matter will be broken by the power of the people, underscoring the need for continued growth in support for independence.
Yousaf also addressed the UK Supreme Court’s ruling last year, which deemed that the Scottish Government cannot hold a legally binding second referendum on independence without the UK Government’s consent. In response, Yousaf said, “As long as the UK Government continues to deny that (independence), what we will do is use the next election to test support for the proposition of independence.”
When asked about a potential conversation with the next UK prime minister, whether Rishi Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer, Yousaf stated that the message would be simple: “Listen to the Scottish people, don’t ignore the Scottish people, we’ve put independence front and centre, and give people the right to determine their own future.”
In regards to the Rutherglen by-election and the conviction of former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier for breaching Covid rules, Yousaf acknowledged that it will be a challenging race for the SNP. However, he criticized the complacency of the Labour party and expressed hope that a negotiation on independence would be more feasible under a Labour government, should they adopt a pragmatic approach.
Responding to Yousaf’s statements, Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy MSP criticized the SNP’s obsession with Scottish independence, stating that the public wants the Scottish government to focus on other priorities. He argued that the independence agenda takes precedence over everything else for the nationalists, to the dismay of the majority of Scots. The Scottish Labour party was contacted for comment regarding Yousaf’s remarks.
