Scottish leader Sturgeon seeks new independence referendum
UK’s Labour will not oppose second referendum if Scottish parliament wants one
LONDON: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday said she plans to seek the devolved parliament’s approval next week to hold a second referendum on Scotland’s independence from Britain.
Sturgeon said she believes a referendum should take place between autumn 2018 and spring 2019 after her efforts to seek a compromise over Britain’s exit from the European Union were met with a “hardline response” from British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government.
“Scotland stands at a hugely important crossroads,” Sturgeon, who leads the Scottish National Party, told reporters ahead of a crucial vote in the British parliament that could allow May to trigger formal Brexit talks as early as Tuesday.
May wants lawmakers to back her plan to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty — which sets the rules for a nation negotiating its exit from the EU over a period of two years — by the end of March.
Sturgeon’s timeframe would see the independence referendum held before Britain leaves the EU, but after many of the Brexit terms become known.
“On the eve of Article 50 being triggered, not only is there no UK wide agreement on the way ahead — the UK government has not moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement,” Sturgeon said.
May has previously said she opposes a second independence referendum.
However, Britain’s opposition Labour Party said it will not oppose a call for a second Scottish independence referendum if the plan wins support from the Scottish parliament.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Twitter the Scottish Labour Party would oppose First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s demand for a referendum in Scotland’s parliament, where Labour is the third largest behind the Conservatives and the Scottish National Party.