Theresa May accuses SNP of “divisive and obsessive nationalism”

The Prime Minister said at the Conservative Party Spring conference: “It is now clear that using Brexit as a pretext to engineer a second independence referendum has been the SNP’s sole objective last June.

Theresa May accuses SNP of “divisive and obsessive nationalism”

Theresa May accused the Scottish National Party of “divisive and obsessive nationalism” after Nicola Sturgeon called for talks to determine a suitable time to hold a second referendum.

The Prime Minister said at the Conservative Party Spring conference: “It is now clear that using Brexit as a pretext to engineer a second independence referendum has been the SNP’s sole objective last June.

“But it would be bad for Scotland, bad for the United Kingdom and bad for us all and I will always fight to strengthen and sustain this precious, precious union.”

Earlier Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I have set out when I think it [the referendum] would be right.

“She [May] doesn’t agree with that, so let her set out when she thinks it would be right and then let’s have a discussion about it.

“Who knows? It may only be a matter of weeks or months apart.”

Sturgeon had called for a second referendum betweenAutumn 2018 and Spring 2019 but the timespan was rejected by the PM.

Sturgeon said she has been met with a brick well when looking for compromise with the Prime Minister regarding Brexit negotiations.

May ridiculed Scotland for no longer being set on rejoining the EU if it was to leave the United Kingdom, calling it “muddle on muddle”.