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| Sturgeon: Autumn 2018 'common sense' for indyref2 | Sturgeon: Autumn 2018 'common sense' for indyref2 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's first minister has said autumn 2018 would be a "common sense" date for any second independence referendum. | Scotland's first minister has said autumn 2018 would be a "common sense" date for any second independence referendum. |
| Nicola Sturgeon continued to insist, however, that no final decision had yet been made on holding such a vote. | Nicola Sturgeon continued to insist, however, that no final decision had yet been made on holding such a vote. |
| In a BBC interview, she said she would take things forward at "the pace that I think is right for the country". | In a BBC interview, she said she would take things forward at "the pace that I think is right for the country". |
| Ms Sturgeon has previously said another referendum is "highly likely" following last year's Brexit vote. | Ms Sturgeon has previously said another referendum is "highly likely" following last year's Brexit vote. |
| Scotland voted by 62% to 38% to remain inside the EU, and the Scottish government argues that access to the single market after Brexit is vital to the country's interests. | Scotland voted by 62% to 38% to remain inside the EU, and the Scottish government argues that access to the single market after Brexit is vital to the country's interests. |
| Scottish ministers have put forward proposals they claim could achieve this, but have accused the UK government of "intransigence" on the issue. | Scottish ministers have put forward proposals they claim could achieve this, but have accused the UK government of "intransigence" on the issue. |
| SNP economic spokesman Stewart Hosie told BBC Breakfast: "The key thing is will the UK government really embark on this hard Tory, cliff-edge Brexit - and we fear they will. | |
| "And secondly, will they actually accept, into the UK negotiated position, the very sensible suggestion put forward by Nicola Sturgeon... if they reject it out of hand then, as the First Minister has said previously, it does make a second independence referendum more likely." | "And secondly, will they actually accept, into the UK negotiated position, the very sensible suggestion put forward by Nicola Sturgeon... if they reject it out of hand then, as the First Minister has said previously, it does make a second independence referendum more likely." |
| He also agreed with Ms Sturgeon that autumn 2018 "might make sense". | He also agreed with Ms Sturgeon that autumn 2018 "might make sense". |
| In a recent speech in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said a second independence referendum may become a "necessary" way of protecting Scotland's interests. | In a recent speech in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said a second independence referendum may become a "necessary" way of protecting Scotland's interests. |
| Interviewed by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg for a BBC documentary to be broadcast on Thursday, she gave her clearest indication yet about the possible timing of such a vote. | Interviewed by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg for a BBC documentary to be broadcast on Thursday, she gave her clearest indication yet about the possible timing of such a vote. |
| Asked if autumn 2018 was a likely date, she replied: "Within that window, of when the outline of a UK deal becomes clear and the UK exiting the EU, I think would be common sense time for Scotland to have that choice, if that is the road we choose to go down." | Asked if autumn 2018 was a likely date, she replied: "Within that window, of when the outline of a UK deal becomes clear and the UK exiting the EU, I think would be common sense time for Scotland to have that choice, if that is the road we choose to go down." |
| Asked if that meant she was not ruling out autumn 2018 as a possible date, she said: "I'm not ruling anything out, I'm going to continue to take things forward at the pace that I think is right for the country." | Asked if that meant she was not ruling out autumn 2018 as a possible date, she said: "I'm not ruling anything out, I'm going to continue to take things forward at the pace that I think is right for the country." |
| Analysis by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg | Analysis by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg |
| At Westminster and Holyrood in recent months there's been a building sense that Nicola Sturgeon has made up her mind to call a vote. | At Westminster and Holyrood in recent months there's been a building sense that Nicola Sturgeon has made up her mind to call a vote. |
| If she is now willing to discuss the timing of a second vote in public, consideration of another independence referendum is far beyond the hypothetical. | If she is now willing to discuss the timing of a second vote in public, consideration of another independence referendum is far beyond the hypothetical. |
| The crucial facet of that calculation is that the SNP believes its best chance of winning is before the EU negotiations are complete. | The crucial facet of that calculation is that the SNP believes its best chance of winning is before the EU negotiations are complete. |
| But also, it's up to the Westminster government to permit another referendum. There are huge risks for them in denying it, but ministers in London certainly would not grant a vote at the time of the SNP's choosing without a fight. | But also, it's up to the Westminster government to permit another referendum. There are huge risks for them in denying it, but ministers in London certainly would not grant a vote at the time of the SNP's choosing without a fight. |
| More from Laura Kuenssberg | More from Laura Kuenssberg |
| Scotland voted to stay part of the UK by 55% to 45% in the 2014 independence referendum. | Scotland voted to stay part of the UK by 55% to 45% in the 2014 independence referendum. |
| Ms Sturgeon's predecessor as first minister, Alex Salmond, has already predicted that a second independence referendum would take place in autumn next year. | Ms Sturgeon's predecessor as first minister, Alex Salmond, has already predicted that a second independence referendum would take place in autumn next year. |
| While the SNP does not hold an overall majority at Holyrood, it could count on the support of the Scottish Greens if the Scottish Parliament voted on holding a new referendum. | While the SNP does not hold an overall majority at Holyrood, it could count on the support of the Scottish Greens if the Scottish Parliament voted on holding a new referendum. |
| Permission to hold such a vote, however, would have to be granted by the UK government at Westminster. | Permission to hold such a vote, however, would have to be granted by the UK government at Westminster. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May has so far declined to be drawn on whether her government would allow a second referendum. | Prime Minister Theresa May has so far declined to be drawn on whether her government would allow a second referendum. |
| 'Deeply irresponsible' | |
| In her speech to the Scottish Conservative Party conference earlier this month, Mrs May accused the SNP of being "obsessed with its own priority of independence" to the detriment of devolved public services like education and health. | In her speech to the Scottish Conservative Party conference earlier this month, Mrs May accused the SNP of being "obsessed with its own priority of independence" to the detriment of devolved public services like education and health. |
| Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: "Nicola Sturgeon has just admitted what everybody already knew - that the SNP is hell-bent on taking Scotland back to another divisive independence referendum and will use any excuse to do so. | |
| "She knows that a referendum would inflict further damage on Scotland's economy. It is therefore deeply irresponsible for the first minister of Scotland to cast this cloud of uncertainty over our future. | |
| "She needs to put the country first for once. People in Scotland don't want a second referendum, and the SNP doesn't have a mandate for one. Rather than cast our future under further doubt, Nicola Sturgeon needs to act like a first minister, provide some certainty for Scotland, and rule it out." | |
| Nicola Sturgeon's interview was recorded for the BBC documentary Brexit: Britain's Biggest Deal - to be broadcast on BBC Two in England, Wales and Northern Ireland at 21:00 and on BBC Two Scotland at 23:15 on Thursday. | Nicola Sturgeon's interview was recorded for the BBC documentary Brexit: Britain's Biggest Deal - to be broadcast on BBC Two in England, Wales and Northern Ireland at 21:00 and on BBC Two Scotland at 23:15 on Thursday. |