Nicola Sturgeon says Labour will grant Indyref2

She also said Donald Trump’s intervention in the election, in which he was dismissive of Boris Johnson’s brexit deal, showed the US President would drive a “hard bargain”, and insist the NHS was opened up in a post-Brexit UK-US trade deal.

Campaigning in Edinburgh North & Leith, Ms Sturgeon was asked whether she believed Labour would grant that power, known as a Section 30 order.

She replied: “Yes.”

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon suffers 'crushing blow' as MSPs tell her to rewrite Indyref2 law 

She went on: “Everybody knows, you all know, there’s going to be an independence referendum. The opposition parties might not yet have got round to conceding that point in public but they know and everybody knows it.”

Ms Sturgeon's immediate hopes rest on Labour emerging from the December 12 general election as the largest party in a hung parliament, leaving them reliant on SNP support to pass legislation. 

READ MORE: Ian McConnell: East Renfrewshire Tory MP ignores Brexit economics to point at SNP 

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard this week started his election campaign by saying there was "no prospect" of Indyref2 under a Labour government.

However Mr Corbyn has said it would would not be a priority in the early years of a Labour government, but has not ruled it out.

The Scottish Tory pitch in the election is that they would deliver Brexit and avoid a second EU referendum and block Indyref2.

Acting Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw said: "Nicola Sturgeon and I can finally agree on one thing. There's little doubt now that as Prime Minister, Jeremy Corbyn would cave in to the SNP on another referendum immediately. 

"Given that, it's little wonder Nicola Sturgeon is already having private chats with him.  She is rolling out the red carpet for him because she knows he'll give her what she craves - another independence referendum." 

Ms Sturgeon has said she wants a second referendum in late 2020, but the UK government has refused to grant the Section 30 order needed to hold it.

Asked why she was confident Labour would grant Indyref2, the FM said: “I’m a believer in the power of democracy and I think all people should be.”

Asked if she thought a Labour government would try to keep her dangling and insist on a fresh mandate for Indyref2 at the 2021 Holyrood election, she said: “Time will tell, but I am confident that that is the case, that they would see the power of democracy. 

“In fact, I don’t just believe that about Labour. 

“I don’t believe, and I don’t believe, in your heart of hearts, any of you believe that this attempt to block the will of the Scottish people is sustainable.

“I‘m telling you what I think. I’m telling you what I think very very strongly.”

She said she was not willing to compromise on her timing for Indyref2.

“No, I’ve set out my timing. It’s the timing I think is right for Scotland, and that’s the one I’ll argue for,” she said. 

With Mr Corbyn promising a second EU referendum within six months of taking power, Ms Sturgeon was asked whether there was a public appetite for two referendums next year.

She said there was.

“I think there is a huge public appetite to escape this Brexit mess, firstly. And secondly to get Scotland into a position where our future is not being dictated by others. So, yes,” she said.

Ms Sturgeon said she had not discussed her desire for Indyref2 with Corbyn, but their talks over “recent months” had been over Brexit and tactics in the House of Commons.

“I don’t think Jeremy Corbyn is under any illusion though around my position on independence and a referendum and the transfer of power. 

“I have many disagreements with Jeremy Corvym but UK Labour’s position seems to me to be a statement of democracy rather than a denial of democracy, which is the position of the Scottish Labour party. But I suspect, as on so many other things, Scottish Labour  will sooner or later fall into line with the UK party.”

Asked about President Trump intervening in the election by calling the LBC radio show hosted by Brexit party leader Nigel farage she said: “We heard yesterday, with his wee chat with Nigel Farage, what the future could be like if Boris Johnson is re-elected.

"You’ll have Nigel Farage, Donald Trump pulling Boris Johnson’s strings. I don’t think that’s a future people in Scotland want, and it doesn’t have to be that way. There is an alternative.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "Scotland doesn’t need another independence referendum. Scottish Liberal Democrats are now the only ones who can be trusted to stand up for the union.

“Labour have agreed to grant another referendum and the Conservatives are proposing a border down the middle of the Irish Sea.

“If you want a party who will stand up for Scotland in the UK, you need to vote for the Liberal Democrats.”