Nicola Sturgeon’s dream of Scottish independence suffers another blow as America tells her to respect the will of the British people
NICOLA Sturgeon may have difficulty trying to win backing for Scottish independence from whoever wins next month’s presidential election as America tells her to respect the will of the British people.
In television interviews the SNP leader said she was horrified by Donald Trump’s remarks about women and the allegations of harassment against him.
And when asked whether she would be proud if Trump became president – as his mother was Scottish and he has golf courses in Scotland – she said definitely not.
She said: “Would I be proud if Donald Trump became president? No. No.
“I hope Donald Trump doesn’t become president of the United States and I expect the people of the United States will have the good sense not to elect him."
If Hillary Clinton wins the election on November 8 Sturgeon would have some making up to do.
Back in 2009, when Clinton was the Secretary of State, she slammed Scotland’s decision to release the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.
And press briefings after the EU referendum reveal the White House does not think the result gives Sturgeon a mandate for a second independence referendum.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest spoke to reporters about the USA’s position, saying: "The United States values the critically important security relationship that we have with the United Kingdom.
"Obviously the UK is a critically important partner in the NATO alliance.
"That is the bedrock of our national security in this country.
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"So we obviously believe that that relationship is critically important and, frankly, there’s no reason that that should at all be affected by the decision that British voters made.
"There was a referendum on Scottish independence a year or two ago.
"We made clear at the time that, again, that was a decision for voters in Scotland to make.
"But the United States’ view has been and continues to be that a united UK is in the best interest of the United States.
"It makes them a stronger partner.
"It makes them more effective in contributing to the NATO alliance that's the bedrock of our national security."
And on board Air Force One the White House principal deputy press secretary said the president's view hadn't altered.
He said: "I don't have any updated position from the President for you on this.
“I think his comments the last time he addressed this still stand."
US Ambassador Matthew Barzun visited Sturgeon last month but the US Embassy has not commented on what was talked about – although the issue of Trident is believed to have been on the agenda.
A spokeswoman told Express.co.uk: "Ambassador Barzun requested the meeting with First Minister Sturgeon, as per standard diplomatic protocol to visit the highest-ranking local official when on official travel.
"The meeting was off-the-record."