Nicola Sturgeon says US trip is about trade, not Scottish independence

NICOLA STURGEON has insisted her US tour is focused on trade after opponents criticised her promoting Scottish independence on the taxpayer-funded trip.

Scotland’s First Minister told an audience at California’s Stanford University on Tuesday that she “fervently” wanted the country to become independent and was “fairly certain” there would be a second referendum.

It prompted criticism from the SNP’s opponents, with Conservative chief whip John Lamont saying it was a “great shame” Ms Sturgeon was using the “taxpayer-funded trip” to promote independence.

“There is, I detect, a real desire to strengthen economic links between the United States and Scotland. That’s been the focus of the trip.

“Obviously there is heightened awareness and interest in the Brexit discussion and also what that means for Scotland’s constitutional future.”

“This trip has been principally business focused so we’re not going to Washington on this occasion,” she said.

“I fully expect, during his presidency, President Trump will come to the UK and come to Scotland. As First Minister of Scotland, I’m not going to decline to meet him.”

“We’ve written the letter, we’ll wait for the formal response and we’ll set that out in due course,” she said.

Amid continuing tension between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar, Ms Sturgeon said she had “sympathy” for the British overseas territory and the “position it is now finding itself in”.

“I think we’re only now beginning to see what the implications are.”

Ms Sturgeon will give a speech at the United Nations headquarters in New York today before completing her five-day US trip on Friday.