EXPLAINER
Kate Forbes (left) and Angus Robertson could be in new roles as Nicola Sturgeon unveils her new Cabinet NICOLA Sturgeon is expected to unveil a streamlined Cabinet tomorrow after carrying out a reshuffle following her formal re-election as First Minister. Currently there are 12 Cabinet secretaries across the different portfolios including the constitution, health, education and the environment, but it is thought that a restructure may cut the numbers to 10 or even eight and combine certain related areas such as the economy and finance. Four SNP MSPs holding roles in the Government’s front bench team stood down ahead of the election.
Paul Mason appeared frustrated with his party s refusal to accept the situation in Scotland JOURNALIST and Labour member Paul Mason called on his party to accept the “very exciting prospect” of an independent Scotland during the BBC’s Question Time programme. The reporter, who previously worked for the BBC and Channel 4, said while he believes independence will be “difficult” the rest of the UK needs to accept it is coming. Mason appeared on the programme alongside Tory Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, Scotland’s Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, Labour’s Lisa Nandy and GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry. An audience member asked whether there is a mandate for another independence referendum following last week’s Scottish Parliament election, in which a majority of pro-independence MSPs were elected.
THE latest poll has voters telling the SNP to focus on recovery from the pandemic rather than the constitution. A YouGov survey for The Times indicates voters are more concerned with health, economic recovery and improving education over the next five years, instead of Scottish independence. When asked to list their top priorities for the new Scottish government, health and the economy came joint top, with each marked as a priority by 55 per cent of those surveyed. The survey, which asked 1,144 people aged 16 or older between May 2 and May 4, also found education was third at 42 per cent, while climate change and the environment came fourth with 26 per cent of people listing it as a priority.
An opinion poll has found “widespread misunderstanding” of economic facts among Scottish voters and confusion over the SNP’s plans for independence, a pro-Union think tank says.
A poll conducted by Survation for the think tank These Islands found 57% of those who supported independence believed the Scottish Government’s annual GERS figures are “made up by Westminster to hide Scotland’s true wealth”.
The annual figures are used to calculate Scotland’s fiscal deficit and are published by the Scottish Government.
Survation polled 1,047 Scots between April 21 and 23.
A survey commissioned by These Islands has revealed widespread fact denial within the Scottish electorate and deep confusion over the SNP’s independence plans, particularly with respect to currency. https://t.co/Ua91wx1tU2
Poll shows widespread misunderstanding of economic facts, think tank says freepressseries.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from freepressseries.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.