Sturgeon ‘to make MAJOR announcement’ as SNP gloat they’ll WIN second indy referendum

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Nicola Sturgeon may soon announce a date for a second Scottish independence referendum

Sources within Scotland, both in the SNP administration and in the country’s opposition Tory party, indicated the likelihood of another vote was growing by the day.

Prime Minister Theresa May is believed to already be working on a contingency plan amid fears demand for another vote could be impossible to ignore in just a matter of months.

A senior Scottish Tory insider said: “We need to be prepared. Listening to what they (the SNP) have been saying in the past few days the timing could be even faster than August. This is about making sure we are calm and collected ahead of any negotiations.”

While a spokeswoman for Mrs May denied outright a second vote was being prepared, SNP source said it was now clear the “UK Government appear to accept the mandate that clearly exists for a referendum”.

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Despite losing the 2014 vote, the SNP is calling for another referendum to be held

Sources in Holyrood and Westminster both believe Ms Sturgeon is now preparing to call for another vote to be held in August next year, if not earlier.

A senior Scottish Tory insider said: “We need to be prepared. Listening to what they have been saying in the past few days the timing could be even faster than August.

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“This is about making sure we are calm and collected ahead of any negotiations.”

Earlier today an SNP MP gloated another referendum would take place – and said current opinion trends indicated a Yes victory at the second time of asking.

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Rumours are growing a second independence vote may take place in August 2018

Joanna Cherry said at PMQs this afternoon: “We are still prepared to put faith at the time being to the promise the PM made about Scotland’s wishes being taken into account.

“Members of this house should make no mistake, we will expect the PM to deliver on that promise. We will expect to have our position put forward.

“If that doesn’t happen and the PM breaks her promise then we will have another independence referendum and, on the back of the Herald [opinion poll], things are looking pretty good at the moment. We are at nearly 50 per cent and not a single word has been uttered yet in the campaign for a second independence referendum.”

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