Second Scottish Referendum

SNP’s Nicola Sturgen announces new Scottish independence referendum bill.

19:54 16 October 2016

Consultations on plans for a second Scottish independence referendum are scheduled to take place next week, SNP’s Nicole Sturgeon has announced. The Independence Referendum Bill, which marks the first step to holding a second vote, would be published next week. 

 

Ms Sturgeon said that Scotland had the right to choose a different path it if was not allowed to protect its interest “within the UK.”

 

She said: "I am determined that Scotland will have the ability to reconsider the question of independence and to do so before the UK leaves the EU - if that is necessary to protect our country's interests.

 

"So, I can confirm today that the Independence Referendum Bill will be published for consultation next week."

 

However, Scottish Secretary David Mundell called on Ms Sturgeon to "commit her government to working constructively with the UK government to seize the opportunities that will bring, not taking Scotland back to the divisive constitutional debates of the past".

 

He said: "Constant talk of another independence referendum is creating uncertainty and damaging the Scottish economy at a time when our growth is lagging behind the UK as a whole."

 

In the first Scottish independence referendum, 55% of voters voted to stay in the UK.