INDYREF 2 ...THE SEQUEL
Battle lines drawn as Sturgeon calls for vote
NICOLA Sturgeon has set Scotland on course for a second referendum on independence.
The First Minister finally ran out of patience with the UK Government over Brexit negotiations and said the only way Scotland’s interests in the EU can be protected is to offer the people another vote on becoming an independent country.
The SNP leader said she would be asking the Scottish Parliament to give its permission for her to seek powers from Westminster to hold a referendum.
The vote would take place sometime between the autumn of next year and the spring of 2019, the latest date by when the UK must leave the EU.
MSPs at Holyrood will be given a vote on the issue next week.
The Tories, Labour and LibDems immediately said they would vote against but, with the Greens in favour, Ms Sturgeon is guaranteed a majority.
The only stumbling block then is whether the UK Government will agree to the transfer of power to hold the poll.
The Prime Minister said there was no majority in favour of a poll but didn’t say if she would grant or withhold the power.
Ms Sturgeon said the UK Government “has not moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement”.
She said instead the Scottish Government’s efforts had been met with a “brick wall of intransigence.”
She warned against the UK Government attempting to block a second vote, stating it was for the people of Scotland to decide.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The UK Government was clear in 2014 that an independence referendum should be, in their words, ‘made in Scotland, by the people of Scotland’ that is a principle that should be respected today.
“The detailed arrangements for a referendum, including its tim- ing, should be for the Scottish Parliament to decide.”
She said she had a mandate to seek a referendum as it was stated in the SNP’s 2016 manifesto that Scots should be allowed to choose again if the country is taken out of the EU against its will
The vote would be timed to take place before the UK, and with it Scotland, leaves the EU to allow an independent Scotland to seek to retain f ull EU membership.
Ms Sturgeon added: “It is important that Scotland is able to exercise the right to choose our own future at a time when the options are clearer than they are now, but before it is too late to decide on our own path.”
However the European Commission said Scotland would need to apply for membership. Margaritis Schinas, EU Commission spokesman said the “Barroso doctrine” as expressed by former President Jose Manuel Barroso, that ‘if one part of an EU country became an independent state it would have to apply for EU membership’ continued to apply.
As independence supporters gathered in Glasgow’s George Square, the referendum battle lines were drawn with the Tories and Labour opposing a second vote and independence.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “A clear majority of the people of Scotland voted to reject the SNP’s false hope and lies, and backed working together with the other nations of the UK.
“The reality is leaving the UK would mean turbo-charged austerity for Scotland, putting the future of our schools and hospitals at risk.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson accused the first Minister of being irresponsible and acting in her own interest “purely for partisan political reasons”.
Theresa May meanwhile said she did not believe there was an appetite for a second vote.
The Prime Minister said: “The tunnel vision of the SNP have
shown today is deeply regrettable. It sets Scotland on a course for more uncertainty and division. This is at a time when the evidence is the majority of the people of Scotland do not want a second independence referendum.”
Labour at Westminster has said it will not seek to block a second referendum if the Scottish Parliament votes to seek one.
Ms Sturgeon made the announcement as the Lords prepared to vote on the Brexit bill, which they passed, allowing the government to move forward with Article 50 so the UK can leave the EU .
Campaign groups also reacted to the news of a likely referendum. Rob Aberdein, chairman of Business for Scotland said: “We will do everything we can to help deliver independence for Scotland so we can create a better, fairer, more sustainable and economically successful nation where prosperity is shared.”
Scotland in Union has organised a meeting in Glasgow today to build support against a second referendum and independence if and when the poll is held.