3rd Jun 2025 09:28
(Alliance News) - Keir Starmer has said another Scottish independence referendum is not a "priority" and he cannot imagine one taking place during his time as UK prime minister.
The Labour leader said First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney had not raised the issue with him during their recent talks.
Scots voted in an independence referendum in 2014, with the 'No' side securing 55% of the vote.
Since then, successive UK governments have denied the SNP's pleas for a second referendum.
The prime minister was speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, having launched the strategic defence review in Glasgow on Monday.
He was asked if there would be another independence referendum if a nationalist majority emerges after next year's Holyrood election.
Starmer said: "I think it's really important to focus on the priorities that matter most.
"We got a big election win last year on the basis that we would stabilise the economy and ensure that on that foundation we build a stronger Scotland in a stronger UK and that's what I intend to do."
He was then asked if he could imagine another independence referendum during his time as Prime Minister.
Starmer said: "No, and nobody's raising that with me as their first priority.
"Certainly, in the discussions I'm having with the first minister, that is not – we're talking about jobs, energy, security and dealing with the cost-of-living crisis."
Last month Swinney said a "democratic majority" of pro-independence MSPs following the next Scottish Parliament election should result in another referendum.
The prime minister said that whatever the outcome in May, an independence referendum is "not a priority".
Speaking to Good Morning Scotland, Starmer also discussed the defence sector in Scotland.
He said there are around 25,000 defence jobs in Scotland and the strategic defence review announcements would "build on that".
The prime minister said: "I would like to see many, many jobs in Scotland.
"Scotland has an incredible heritage and skilled work people in Scotland.
"We've just been looking at some of the frigates which have been built and are being built in Scotland."
He insisted the SNP is "wrong" in its opposition to nuclear weapons and said "we're entering a new era on defence and security".
By Neil Pooran, PA Scotland Political Correspondent
Press Association: News
source: PA
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