Sturgeon puts referendum into manifesto

The revelation came less than a year after Ms Sturgeon promised Scots that last autumn’s divisive referendum was a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity.

The SNP has, meanwhile, gained thousands of new members, winning 56 of Scotland’s 59 seats in a general election in May 2016.

After months of dodging the question, the SNP leader has admitted that she is plotting another referendum.

Mr Salmond, the MP for Gordon, said: “These are four issues, any one of which and a combination of them most certainly, could provide a change in material circumstances, which both identifies what Nicola has been talking about and would belie my [once in a generation] forecast of the timescale for a constitutional referendum”.

In a statement, the SNP leader said she wants to ensure that “at every single stage this is something that is driven by and decided by the people of Scotland, not by politicians“.

Martin Crewe, director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “We know from our work with families that children affected by parental imprisonment are an extremely vulnerable group who often suffer in silence, unseen and unheard”.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The people of Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom last year”.

Ms Sturgeon added: “I’ve always believed that Scotland will become an independent country so there’s no change in position there”.

Earlier, Ms Sturgeon confirmed a list of “triggers” for a referendum would be voters before May.

“Immediately afterwards, the mood was one of utter devastation and I felt that personally. We would like to congratulate all the winners”.

It is perhaps that kind of thinking that led the former boss of the Yes Scotland campaign for independence, Blair Jenkins, to suggest a second referendum in 2021.

Sturgeon said that pressure for a vote would also grow because of “scaremongering” about Britain’s membership of the European Union ahead of an in-out referendum which Cameron is planning to hold by 2017 at the latest.

Condemning Sturgeon’s comments, Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Rush Davidson told the Financial Times the SNP is threatening renewed “uncertainty and division“. As polling shows this weekend, another referendum also flies in the face of public opinion.

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to back a proposal to introduce child and family impact assessments when a parent is sent to prison.

“If there was a mandate for a referendum, any UK Prime Minister who tried to stand in the way of the Scottish people would be very, very foolish indeed”, he said.

“T he SNP want the next election to be about the past arguments on independence because they can’t defend their record in government”.