Ash Regan sets out tough Scottish independence plan in race to become SNP leader

dailyrecord.co.uk:

SNP leadership hopeful Ash Regan has announced an uncompromising plan to win Scottish independence as the race to replace to Nicola Sturgeon heats up.The Edinburgh MSP today claimed a pro-independence majority at any election in Scotland should be enough to trigger negotiations to leave the UK.The former minister, who has announced plans to stand for the top job, said she would be willing to invite Alex Salmond's Alba party to join an independence convention with the SNP if she became leader.Regan insisted any pro-independence majority at a Westminster or Holyrood election should be taken as a mandate for independence and she would – if first minister – then invite the UK Government to negotiate Scotland’s departure from the union.She said: "On my first day as leader, I will call for an independence convention to be held.

This will involve all pro-independence parties, independence organisations, think tanks and civil society to organise a new independence campaign body.“We will create a new vision of an independent Scotland.

We will build coalitions, reach out across all of the society and secure a pro-independence majority, which cannot be ignored.”Holding a constitutional convention has long been a policy of the Alba Party and its leader Alex Salmond – who on Friday praised both Ms Regan and Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, who is considered a leading candidate for the SNP leadership.Regan added: “I propose that we take control of the process towards independence ourselves.“If pro-independence parties – with a clear mandate for such actions in their manifestos – have more than 50% plus one of the votes cast in a Westminster or Holyrood election, this will be a clear instruction that Scotland wishes to be an independence