Scottish Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth says Prime Minister Keir Starmer is reluctant to agree a mechanism for a second Scottish independence vote because, she argues, he “knows he would lose” such a ballot. Her comments refer to how the UK government might approach any future referendum following the outcome of the 2014 independence vote.
Gilruth’s remarks frame the issue as a political decision about whether there is a clear pathway to another vote. The Evening Standard reports her description of Starmer as “scared” to reach agreement on that mechanism. The Belfast Telegraph carries the same core claim, focusing on her statement that the Prime Minister understands he would not secure a favourable result if a vote were held.
Across the outlets provided, the emphasis is on Gilruth’s interpretation of the Prime Minister’s position rather than new procedural details. Neither source excerpted here specifies concrete proposals, timelines, or the precise terms of any proposed referendum mechanism.
