Kemi Warns Starmer’s Weakness on Scottish Independence

Kemi Badenoch Warns of Another Independence Referendum if SNP Gains Majority

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has raised concerns about the potential for another independence referendum in Scotland if the Scottish National Party (SNP) secures a majority in the upcoming Holyrood elections. She argued that Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is too weak to prevent such a move and could be influenced by the left wing of his party.

Badenoch made these remarks during a visit to Aberdeen South Harbour, where she emphasized her campaign to protect oil and gas jobs. She advocated for allowing new North Sea drilling and lifting the windfall tax, while also pledging to reduce VAT on energy bills to help families with rising costs.

In an interview with the Mail, Badenoch highlighted several points:

• Claimed that Reform UK becoming the largest opposition party is “John Swinney’s plan” as it would help provide a “path to independence.”
• Dismissed Nigel Farage’s candidates as a “bunch of jokers” and said they cannot be trusted on protecting the Union.
• Insisted that she will remain leader even if her party goes backwards in the upcoming Scottish, Welsh, and English elections.

Mrs. Badenoch headed north at the beginning of the first full week of the Holyrood election campaign and mocked Sir Keir for “running away” from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar after he demanded his resignation.

On Mr. Swinney’s claim that an SNP majority would be a mandate for a referendum, Mrs. Badenoch said: “What I do know is that Keir Starmer is weak and he is a hostage to the Left wing of his party. He hasn’t even really been up here. I don’t think he’d be able to withstand any pressure. We can see from the relationship with Anas Sarwar that he is very weak. I do not believe he would be able to stand up to a strong SNP. We are very much against another referendum – that question was settled for a generation. I’m worried about Scotland having more divisive politics because of what the SNP is doing. They cannot fix anything, they can’t get Scotland working and that’s why they are talking about independence again. That is all they are about, it is a distraction from the things that matter to people in Scotland right now.”

Pressed on whether she believed an SNP majority would mean another Indy vote in the next Holyrood term, she said: “Yes I do.” She added that Reform “don’t seem to be against independence let alone a referendum” and insisted only the Tories are “strong enough and firm enough” on the issue.

Mrs. Badenoch was scathing about Reform and warned: “These people cannot run anything. They are a populist party. When they see pro-independence people, they tell them they are pro-independence, when they see pro-Union people they tell them they are pro-Union. They are a one-man band. Outside of Nigel Farage, none of the people are credible.”

She also claimed that Reform becoming the largest opposition party would boost the SNP and result in less scrutiny for the First Minister than he gets from Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay.

She said: “This is John Swinney’s plan, this is his path to independence, that is what he wants. He would love Reform as the opposition; it makes his life easier and independence more likely. If you are in government, having unserious people as your opposition is perfect. When he has to face Russell, he is dealing with somebody who is competent. What he would love is a big bunch of jokers. That is what John Swinney wants.”

Mrs. Badenoch was asked if she would continue to fight on as leader if her party goes backwards in the upcoming elections. She said: “Absolutely. We have a long-term strategy. What I’m trying to show is this is a new Conservative Party under new leadership.”

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie defended her party’s position on the Union and said: “We are clear that we oppose a divisive second independence referendum.”

SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said: “The fact is when the SNP wins a majority, Westminster is forced to listen.”