The Catch-up: Scotland 'must hold independence vote in less than two years'

What happened?

Scotland’s First Minister started the process for a second Scottish independence referendum today. Nicola Sturgeon said Scots had the right to choose between staying part of post-Brexit Britain and breaking away before the next Holyrood elections in 2021. She said Westminster politicians have failed to protect Scotland’s interests. Ms Sturgeon said: “Whatever Scotland’s constitutional status in the future, it will always be in our interests for these islands to have the closest possible relationship with the EU.”

Can Theresa May block another vote?

Ms Sturgeon said she will introduce legislation to hold another vote shortly. However, she also suggested she would rely on the agreement of the UK Government to actually hold a referendum. If that’s the case, Downing Street would probably block the vote, saying the country already had a say on the matter in 2014.

Would Scotland vote to leave the UK?

Scotland voted to remain in Britain in the first referendum by 55% to 45%. The main issue that has changed since then is Brexit – 62% of Scots voted to remain part of the EU. Theresa May is staunchly against the idea of independence. If another referendum does take place, the Scottish Labour and Conservative parties would both campaign to stay part of the UK.

According to What Scotland Thinks, the latest numbers suggest that Scots would vote to stay part of the UK again if there was a vote tomorrow – although by a smaller margin. Their latest survey found that 45% support independence, 51% support staying and the rest don’t know.

Read more:
Sturgeon outlines new Scottish independence referendum plans (The Guardian)
SNP names candidates for European election (PA Ready News)
Brexit chaos spurs renewed Scottish drive for independence vote (Bloomberg)

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$1bn

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