Sturgeon exit may delay new Scotland independence vote by five years

SNP scraps conference on first minister's proposal to use next general election as de facto referendum'

Senior figures in the Scottish National party believe Nicola Sturgeon's shock resignation could delay their effort to stage another independence referendum by at least five years.

The party's national executive committee confirmed on Thursday evening that Sturgeon's plan - to stage a special conference on her proposals to use the next election as a single-issue de facto referendum" on independence - had been scrapped.