Nicola Sturgeon urged to ‘unite behind UK’ by Boris Johnson after falling short of majority in Scotland

NICOLA Sturgeon has been urged to unite behind the UK by Boris Johnson after the SNP fell short of gaining a majority vote in Scotland.

The Prime Minister called on Ms Sturgeon to join ‘Team UK’ to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, in an email he sent yesterday.

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In the letter he offered his congratulations to Sturgeon on her success in the elections, reports

He went on to say that he believes “passionately” that “the interests of people across the UK and in particular the people of Scotland are best served when we work together”. 

He also invited the First Ministers of Wales and Northern Ireland to the Covid summit “to discuss our shared challenges and how we can work together in the coming months and years to overcome them”.

Earlier in the day Johnson said he will block any requests for another referendum, but the First Minister hit back: “You will not succeed.”

The Nats won a fourth consecutive term at Holyrood, but tactical unionist voting saw them fall short of a majority.

The Tories held the crucial battleground of Aberdeenshire West, as the SNP won 64 seats – one short of a majority.

It blows off course Ms Sturgeon’s plans to wield an SNP majority to demand a second independence referendum.

But she claimed the likely pro-independence majority with the Greens still commands a mandate for a fresh vote.

She said: “For any Westminster politician who tries to stand in the way of that I would say two things.

“First, you are not picking a fight with the SNP, you are picking a fight with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people.

“Second, you will not succeed. The only people who can decide the future of Scotland are the Scottish people, and no Westminster politician can, or should, stand in the way of that.”

In a victory speech she added: “It is the will of the country.”

Yet critics pointed out that the pro-union vote was greater than the pro-independence vote, by a slim margin of 50.6 per cent to 49.4 per cent.

It came after the PM last night poured cold water on plans for Indyref2, saying Scots had “moved away from the idea of a referendum”.

He told another referendum would be “irresponsible and reckless” as Britain emerges from the coronavirus crisis.

Westminster must grant approval for any independence referendum, but there have been rumblings the Nats could try to hold one anyway.

Asked what he would do if Ms Sturgeon attempted to hold one without a Section 30 order from Westminster granting permission, the PM said there is “no case now for such a thing”.

But senior SNP minister Kate Forbes today fired a warning: “If anything ended up in the courts it was because Boris Johnson dragged us to the courts.”

It sets the stage for a spectacular showdown that has huge ramification for the future of the United Kingdom.

‘IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECKLESS’

The SNP have pledged to push forward with legislation at Holyrood for a second Scottish independence referendum which if passed could be challenged by the UK Government in court.

Scots voted against independence in 2014 in a decisive poll which politicians from both sides claimed was a once-in-a-generation exercise.

Boris’s Conservative party has seen astonishing victories in the elections so far – beating out Labour for several seats across England.

The Tories snatched a Westminster seat from Starmer’s party in the Hartlepool by-election.

In Tees Valley, a usual Labour majority, conservatives won more than 70 per cent of the mayoral vote.

Tory council wins included bellwether authorities Harlow in Essex, Cornwall, Dudley, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Nottinghamshire and Northumberland.

It is thought the party could win 36 more Labour seats in a general election.

Harlow MP Robert Halfon said: “We are the true workers’ party now. And the Boris brand works – he is liked by people in a way that Labour do not understand.”

Finally breaking his silence nine hours after the bombshell Hartlepool defeat, Sir Keir admitted he had failed to “connect” with voters.

He added the “bitterly disappointing” defeats show Labour is hopelessly out of touch with working class Brits.

But he denied the party is facing a life or death battle for survival.

The choice of a better future

Nicola Sturgeon

Polling for Scotland has slipped to its lowest level in 18 months, slumping two points to 42 per cent, according to a poll from ComRes taken last week.

Just four in ten want to leave the UK if there were a fresh poll tomorrow – showing the results would be similar to the 2014 referendum.

And the Tories won more than 70% of the mayoral vote in Tees Valley – an area that used to vote Labour.

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon has retained her seat in Glasgow Southside, meaning the SNP hold the constituency.

She’s previously stated that if the SNP gain a majority in May’s vote they will push for the means to hold IndyRef2 in the life of the next parliament.

Ms Sturgeon’s opponents have attacked her plans to hold another vote on Scottish independence during the next Holyrood term, warning this will hinder the country’s recovery – though she has insisted such a referendum will not take place until the immediate health crisis has passed.

She told voters: “I’m ready to get back to work, to take the difficult decisions, and to put Scotland first. 

“By giving both votes to the SNP tomorrow people will get experienced leadership, a serious programme for government and, when the Covid crisis is over, the right to decide whether Scotland should be an independent country.”