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'Bring it on': Flynn challenges Burnham on independence referendum

Andrew KerrScotland political correspondent
News imageGetty Images a bald man in a dark jacket, white shirt and dark tie is smiling as he gives a speechGetty Images
Stephen Flynn insists independence supporters are "winning the argument"

SNP minister Stephen Flynn has called on the prime minister to "bring it on" and let the people of Scotland decide the country's future in an independence referendum.

Flynn, the party's former Westminster leader and now transport secretary at Holyrood, said the independence movement was facing its greatest-ever challenge.

But he insisted "we are winning the argument" and told delegates at the SNP conference in Aberdeen that "all of us should feel pride in how far our movement has come".

It comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham told MPs a border poll would be considered in both Scotland and Northern Ireland if there was a clear consensus and public opinion had changed.

The PM later moved to clarify his position by telling First Minister John Swinney a second Scottish independence referendum remains "off limits".

Flynn told SNP members on the opening day of the conference that the party's focus was firmly on independence, with a major new campaign being announced.

He said: "Look at where we stand now – three nations of the UK whose leaders are committed to constitutional change, a British prime minister telling us we can have our independence when the people of Scotland want it.

"All of us should feel pride in how far our movement has come."

He added: "We are winning the argument, we can see that by reading the newspapers or listening to the panic of unionist politicians."

News imageGetty Images Andy Burnham has black hair and is wearing black glasses, a blue jacket, white shirt and green tie as he stands beside John Swinney- a bald man wearing black glasses, a blue shirt and purple tieGetty Images
Burnham previously told Swinney that an independence referendum remains "off limits"

But Flynn warned there was "no shortcut" to achieving independence.

"One by one, we must persuade our families, our friends, our neighbours, of our cause. One by one, step by step," he said.

"It takes effort, it takes patient persuasion, it takes hard graft, but we can see that it is working and it is precisely because it is working that the period ahead will be the greatest challenge our movement has ever faced.

"With the weight of Scottish public opinion moving to our cause, we will see that final lap through together – for Scotland."

Swinney will bring the SNP's three-day conference to a close with a keynote speech to delegates on Saturday.

He is expected to promote his renewed push for independence, having said he wants to hold a second independence referendum by 2031.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Scottish government is unable to do so without the consent of Westminster.