First Minister says there should be no standing in the way of indy ref 2
Theresa May is calling on the next Prime Minister to make strengthening the union a “top priority”
Nicola Sturgeon’s describing Theresa May’s plea to strengthen the union as “hollow”.
The Prime Minister is urging the next Tory leader to “think creatively” on how to keep the UK together in her visit to Stirling.
But the First Minister believes the damage is already done:
Theresa May is making what could be her final visit to Scotland as Prime Minister and is expected to say she is confident her successor at Number 10 will work to preserve the union.
She's making the speech before the Conservative Party leadership hustings on Friday, where Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt will pitch to the party membership.
In her speech, the Prime Minister is expected to say: "I am confident that whoever succeeds me in 10 Downing Street will make the union their priority.
"He will be building on work done over the last three years, during which time strengthening the union has become an explicit priority of government.
"The job of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland brings with it privileges and responsibilities which you only really feel once the black door closes behind you.
"One of the first and greatest is the duty you owe to strengthen the union, to govern on behalf of the whole United Kingdom, to respect the identities of every citizen of the UK - English and Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish.
"And to ensure that we can go on facing the future together, overcoming obstacles together, and achieving more together than we ever could apart - a union of nations and people."