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| Nicola Sturgeon prepares for second Scottish independence poll | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon says she believes a second referendum on Scottish independence is “highly likely” after the rest of the UK voted to leave the EU. | |
| The first minister said her government had already started the process of preparing legislation at Holyrood to pave the way for a second vote before the UK formally quits the EU in about two years’ time. | |
| Speaking in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said she was deeply disappointed by the result of the UK referendum but said it had exposed a clear divide between Scottish and English voters, after Scotland voted heavily in favour of remaining. | |
| She said that divide met her government’s central test before holding a second vote on independence of “a material change” in Scotland’s position within the UK. | |
| “It is a significant material change in circumstances. It’s a statement of the obvious that the option of a second independence referendum must be on the table and it is on the table,” she said. | |
| She disclosed the Scottish government would seek urgent talks with the European commission and other European member states to make clear Scotland wanted to remain within the EU – a clear hint she is hoping the EU will back the country’s continued membership before the UK formally leaves. | |
| Sturgeon said the Scottish parliament “must have the option to hold a referendum. I can therefore confirm today, in order to protect that position, we’re beginning now to prepare the legislation that would be required to enable a new independence referendum to take place.” | |
| She added that it was “democratically unacceptable” that Scotland would be taken out of the EU against its will after the UK as a whole voted to back the leave campaign. | |
| Scotland voted to remain in the European Union by 62% to 38%. The UK as a whole voted to leave by 52% to 48%. | |
| Earlier, Alex Salmond said he was certain Nicola Sturgeon would call for a second Scottish independence referendum after the UK voted to leave the EU. | |
| The former first minister and Scottish National party (SNP) leader said Scotland, which voted heavily in favour of remain, must stage a second independence vote before the UK’s exit was agreed – a process expected to take two years to negotiate. | The former first minister and Scottish National party (SNP) leader said Scotland, which voted heavily in favour of remain, must stage a second independence vote before the UK’s exit was agreed – a process expected to take two years to negotiate. |
| He said the Brexit vote constituted a material change in Scotland’s position within the UK, telling BBC Radio Scotland: “This changes the whole context of Scottish independence.” | He said the Brexit vote constituted a material change in Scotland’s position within the UK, telling BBC Radio Scotland: “This changes the whole context of Scottish independence.” |
| The Scottish Green party announced earlier on Friday morning it would launch a petition urging the Scottish parliament to explore “every option” after the referendum, in a clear hint that those options would include a second independence vote. | The Scottish Green party announced earlier on Friday morning it would launch a petition urging the Scottish parliament to explore “every option” after the referendum, in a clear hint that those options would include a second independence vote. |
| With the SNP two seats short of an overall majority at Holyrood, the vote of the Scottish Greens’ six pro-independence MSPs would be crucial in winning parliamentary backing for a second referendum. | With the SNP two seats short of an overall majority at Holyrood, the vote of the Scottish Greens’ six pro-independence MSPs would be crucial in winning parliamentary backing for a second referendum. |
| Salmond said his successor now had to implement her manifesto pledge to call for a second referendum if there was “a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will”. | Salmond said his successor now had to implement her manifesto pledge to call for a second referendum if there was “a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will”. |
| He said: “I’m quite certain that Nicola will start to implement that manifesto.” | He said: “I’m quite certain that Nicola will start to implement that manifesto.” |
| Salmond added that a new prime minister to replace David Cameron, who announced his resignation on Friday morning, would soon have to invoke article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon treaty to start the process of leaving. | Salmond added that a new prime minister to replace David Cameron, who announced his resignation on Friday morning, would soon have to invoke article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon treaty to start the process of leaving. |
| “That sets the clock ticking. So some time over the next two to two-and-a-half years, there would have to be a Scottish referendum to see if the people of Scotland want to assert their national independence, as part of a wider Europe. | “That sets the clock ticking. So some time over the next two to two-and-a-half years, there would have to be a Scottish referendum to see if the people of Scotland want to assert their national independence, as part of a wider Europe. |
| “The logic would be that Scotland would have the option of remaining within Europe while the rest of the UK left Europe, so there would be no logic in saying: let Scotland go out and then come back in again.” | “The logic would be that Scotland would have the option of remaining within Europe while the rest of the UK left Europe, so there would be no logic in saying: let Scotland go out and then come back in again.” |
| With Sturgeon due to make a statement on her plans for a second referendum later on Friday morning, Salmond implied that he knew she had already begun planning for that vote and had looked at Scotland’s alternative currency options. | With Sturgeon due to make a statement on her plans for a second referendum later on Friday morning, Salmond implied that he knew she had already begun planning for that vote and had looked at Scotland’s alternative currency options. |
| He suggested Sturgeon would be far more confident than many observers thought about her chances of persuading a majority of Scots to now back independence, despite a series of polls putting that at less than 50%. | He suggested Sturgeon would be far more confident than many observers thought about her chances of persuading a majority of Scots to now back independence, despite a series of polls putting that at less than 50%. |
| The author JK Rowling, who voted against independence, has implied she would now rethink her position, and Salmond said major Scottish employers and companies, such as the whisky giant Diageo, would consider whether Scottish independence within the EU would ensure their continued access to the EU single market. | The author JK Rowling, who voted against independence, has implied she would now rethink her position, and Salmond said major Scottish employers and companies, such as the whisky giant Diageo, would consider whether Scottish independence within the EU would ensure their continued access to the EU single market. |
| “There’s going to be rethinking by a whole range of companies because access to that marketplace is key to prosperity and one thing I’m sure Nicola Sturgeon won’t allow is the livelihoods of Scottish workers and their families being sacrificed and jeopardised by the incompetence of Westminster politicians,” Salmond told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland. | “There’s going to be rethinking by a whole range of companies because access to that marketplace is key to prosperity and one thing I’m sure Nicola Sturgeon won’t allow is the livelihoods of Scottish workers and their families being sacrificed and jeopardised by the incompetence of Westminster politicians,” Salmond told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland. |
| Sturgeon has insisted that her government be given a direct role in the UK’s negotiations with the EU on exiting, but she could also demand that Westminster give Holyrood the legal authority to stage a second referendum if it wants to. | Sturgeon has insisted that her government be given a direct role in the UK’s negotiations with the EU on exiting, but she could also demand that Westminster give Holyrood the legal authority to stage a second referendum if it wants to. |