Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon seeks second independence referendum in light of Brexit
Sturgeon said her requests for Scotland to be allowed to remain in the European single market even as the rest of Britain leaves had been met with “a brick wall of intransigence” from London
Scotland will begin the process next week for making a request to the British government to hold a new independence referendum between late 2018 and early 2019, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Monday.
Her announcement came as British Prime Minister Theresa May was set this week to trigger the process of leaving the EU after last year’s Brexit vote.
“Next week I will seek the authority of the Scottish parliament to agree with the UK government ... the procedure that will enable the Scottish parliament to legislate for an independence referendum,” Sturgeon said.
But Sturgeon, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), also held out the possibility of a compromise with the British government, saying: “I am not turning my back on further discussion.”
I cannot pretend to the Scottish people that a compromise agreement looks remotely likely. I’m doing what I think is right for the country
Sturgeon said however that her requests for Scotland to be allowed to remain in the European single market even as the rest of Britain leaves had so far been met with “a brick wall of intransigence” from London.
“I cannot pretend to the Scottish people that a compromise agreement looks remotely likely,” she said, adding: “I’m doing what I think is right for the country.”