Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told the BBC’s Andrew Marr that independence was not a priority for the people of Scotland.
Gove told Andrew Marr that “a majority of people who voted in the constituencies voted for parties that were opposed to a referendum” and that Nicola Sturgeon “didn’t secure a majority as Alex Salmond did in 2011."
READ MORE: Michael Gove says talk of another Scottish independence referendum is a distraction
He said: “The people of Scotland made it perfectly clear during this campaign that their priorities were recovery, jobs and jabs.”
Asked whether Nicola Sturgeon would be taken to court if a second referendum on Scottish independence was held, Michael Gove said: “We’re not going near there.”
The Cabinet Office minister told BBC’s Andrew Marr: “The result of all of these elections was an instruction to politicians: thank you for the vaccination programme, the UK Government has delivered that across the whole country, now please concentrate on recovery.”
He added: “Alex Salmond, when he requested a referendum, every party in the Scottish Parliament agreed that it was appropriate to have a referendum given that he had secured a majority. It is not the case now – as we see – that the people of Scotland are agitating for a referendum.”
READ MORE: Scottish Election: Lorna Slater says Scottish Greens will have more influence than ever
Gove was also asked on Sky's Sophy Ridge whether there are any circumstances when the Prime Minister would agree to a second referendum on Scottish independence to which he replied: “It’s not an issue for the moment.
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