Sturgeon's conference speech is just kicking off if you want to follow along
Sturgeon talks about those who "honour us by making this country their home". So reassuring to hear a national leader speak this way about immigrants and refugees.
You're reminded again what a gift Johnson is to Sturgeon. On refugees, social care tax and Universal Credit cuts, he does her work for her. A "lack of basic humanity and moral compass".
She can show-don't-tell the argument for independence simply by putting forward her own policies and then describing those being pursued at Westminster.
"The obsession is now so dominant in Tory ranks that they imposed a Hard Brexit right in the midst of a global pandemic, when people and businesses were at their most fragile and vulnerable. It was an unnecessary and truly unforgivable act. And the impact is now being felt."
Sturgeon offers a timescale for another referendum but tellingly says it will be "legal". "That is the choice we intend to offer the Scottish people in a legal referendum within this term of parliament, covid permitting by the end of 2023."
Notice the use of the word legal. Sturgeon's efforts to hold a referendum would probably go to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court would, I think, find in London's favour. This seems to rule out a non-legal unilateral vote in that situation.
That would leave us Sturgeon constitutionally trapped. But politically, the refusal of the British govt and the ruling of the Supreme Court would play powerfully into her narrative of being trapped by the British state against delivering a clear electoral mandate.
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