Put politics aside, Nicola Sturgeon urges Cop26 leaders (while doing exactly the opposite)

Nicola Sturgeon has been criticised for using Cop26 to campaign for independence despite urging world leaders to put politics aside for the summit.

The First Minister said she hoped "we can all put egos aside over the next few days" and called on the leaders round the negotiating table to focus instead on getting a deal to cut climate emissions.

Although she is not part of the negotiations, she said she had promised the Prime Minister she would do this as she argued it was "a moment in history for everybody to put their political interests" to one side.

However, the SNP took out full-page adverts in several Scottish newspapers yesterday (mon) that attempted to link the summit being hosted by the UK Government in Glasgow with independence and described Scotland as a "nation in waiting".

It featured an image of a Scottish landscape in sunshine with a large slogan that read: "A nation in waiting welcomes the nations of the world." This was followed by Ms Sturgeon's signature.

At the bottom, next to a picture of Ms Sturgeon, the advert read: "Scotland helped lead the world into the industrial age. Now we're proud to help lead the world into the net zero age.

"We're busy creating a greener, fairer, sustainable Scotland. While not yet an independent nation, we're more than ready and able to play our part on the global stage at Cop26."

The SNP took out the advert despite the UK Government selecting Glasgow as the venue for the summit and responding positively to Ms Sturgeon's requests to lead or attend an array of events being held around the talks

On Monday she addressed a fringe meeting, met climate activists Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate and chatted to Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister. She also posted a selfie on social media of herself with Sir David Attenborough.

Donald Cameron, the Scottish Tories Shadow Constitution Secretary, said: “This advert from the SNP is disappointing but very predictable. Even when world leaders are in Glasgow to focus on the future of the planet, the first instinct of the SNP is to push their divisive independence obsession.

“No matter how big the issue, the SNP just can’t help themselves – they always focus on trying to break up the United Kingdom." He contrasted this with the Nationalists' "dismal" failure to meet their climate change targets.

'The eyes of billions are on Scotland'

Alex Cole-Hamilton, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said: "The eyes of billions are on Scotland, the future of our planet hangs in the balance, and Nicola Sturgeon can’t help herself. This advert is a distraction and divisive. It should be withdrawn."

Only hours after the advert appeared, Ms Sturgeon told Sky News: "I hope we can all put egos aside over the next few days and just work together to get the outcome we need.

"That's what I am committed to doing. I've said that to the Prime Minister, to Alok Sharma. We've all got a big responsibility here and if ever there is a time and a moment in history for everybody to put their political interests, their egos to one side and focus."

She added: "It's easy to exaggerate these things sometimes but this is literally about the future of the planet. Are we going to step up and save the planet or are we going to accept a pretty bleak outlook for humanity on this planet?"

An SNP spokesman said: "The SNP is proud to be delivering global leadership on tackling the climate emergency.

"We'll leave others to snipe from the sidelines, we're 100 per cent focused on creating a greener and fairer Scotland and more sustainable planet.”