Mundell: 'Independence Is Not Inevitable'

The Scottish Secretary of State will speak at Edinburgh University later to mark the eve of the first anniversary of the independence referendum.

David Mundell will say that the advantages of the UK include a strong currency, extra spending power and the UK Security Services and are even clearer than they were this time last year. He will argue that the case for the UK needs to be made.

The Secretary of State will also criticise the First Minister for her efforts to try and hold a second referendum despite signing the Edinburgh Agreement which promised to respect the referendum result. He will say that Nicola Sturgeon has now set aside the 'sovereign will' of the Scottish people as nothing more than ‘an unfortunate but peripheral setback on the road to independence’.

Mr Mundell will conclude that if the Union didn’t exist we would need to invent it and that people in Scotland would vote for it.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she plans to set out the triggers for a possible second referendum in the 2016 SNP manifesto.

Ms Sturgeon says the decision to hold a second referendum in Scotland will rest with Scots, not politicians.

Tomorrow will mark the first anniversary of the independence referendum. 55% voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, compared to 45% who voted in favour of independence.