Starmer says no independence referendum while he is PM

Keir Starmer has said he cannot imagine another Scottish independence referendum taking place during his time as prime minister.

The Labour leader insisted it was more important to focus on the economy than the constitution.

Scotland's first minister John Swinney recently said he wanted to achieve "demonstrable support" for independence.

But Starmer - who visited Scotland ahead of Thursday's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election - said "nobody's raising that with me as their first priority".

In an interview to be broadcast on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme later, the prime minister said an SNP victory at next year's Holyrood elections would not change his mind.

"I think it's really important to focus on the priorities that matter most," he said.

"We got a big election win last year on the basis that we would stabilise the economy and ensure that on that foundation we built a stronger Scotland in a stronger United Kingdom and that's what I intend to do."

Starmer told the programme his recent talks with John Swinney had not focused on independence.

He said: "Nobody's raising that with me as their first priority, certainly in the discussions I'm having with the first minister.

"We're talking about jobs, energy, security and dealing with the cost of living crisis."

Last month, the first minister talked about securing "demonstrable support" for breaking up the United Kingdom.

Swinney compared this to the 1997 referendum for a Scottish parliament, which was backed by around 74% of Scots.

But the first minister also told BBC Scotland News that it was "completely unacceptable" for the independence movement "to be thwarted by a Westminster government that just folds its arms and says 'no'."

Former Conservative minister Michael Gove has said there could be a second Scottish independence referendum if the public show "overwhelming support" for one.

Gove, who sat in the cabinet for most of the period between 2010 and 2024, said he didn't think another referendum was necessary.

However, he conceded that the UK government may have to change approach if SNP popularity and support for another vote grows.

Gove was part of a government that rejected requests from the Scottish government for a second referendum.

He denied that this was anti-democratic and insisted that Scotland had "more important" issues to deal with.

Gove now suggests that the likelihood of a second independence vote was linked to the SNP's ability to improve public services.

"If, for the sake of argument, the SNP make all of those decisions in government in a way that gives people confidence in them then we might be in a different position [on a second referendum]," he said.