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Scottish independence: Nicola Sturgeon fires starting gun on referendum Scottish independence: Nicola Sturgeon fires starting gun on referendum
(about 2 hours later)
Nicola Sturgeon has said the Scottish people will be given a choice whether to follow the UK into a “hard Brexit” or become an independent country between autumn 2018 and spring 2019. Nicola Sturgeon has triggered a fresh constitutional battle over Scotland’s future after announcing plans to stage a second independence referendum within the next two years.
The Scottish first minister said she was firing the starting gun on a second independence referendum because the British government had failed to move “even an inch” towards compromise over EU negotiations. Accusing Theresa May of thwarting Scotland’s desire for a special deal with Europe, the first minister confirmed she plans to hold the vote between autumn 2018 and spring 2019 unless the UK government offers substantial last-minute concessions.
A spokesman for Theresa May responded by saying a second referendum would be “divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time”. Sturgeon said the prime minister’s refusal to discuss full Scottish access to the single market and to threaten heavy restrictions on the new powers for Scotland after Brexit made a second referendum all but inevitable.
Setting out plans to seek the authority of the Scottish parliament, Sturgeon said: “Since last June my focus has been on trying to find an agreement with the UK that would reconcile the UK-wide vote to leave the European Union with the Scottish vote to remain.” Any pretence that the UK was a partnership of equal nations was now dead, Sturgeon said, adding that there had been no attempt to inform the Scottish government that May could invoke article 50 as early as Tuesday.
She argued that she had initially been encouraged by May’s commitment to seek a UK-wide approach – and said her government had put forward proposals that offered compromise. “The UK government has not moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement,” Sturgeon said. “Our efforts at compromise have instead been met with a brick wall of intransigence.”
“We accepted that Scotland would leave the EU despite the 62% vote to remain but we argued that the UK should stay in the single market or seek an outcome that would allow Scotland to do so. We set out how greater powers for the Scottish parliament could help protect Scotland’s interest in a post-Brexit landscape. Buoyed by three successive opinion polls putting the yes vote nearly neck and neck with the no vote, Sturgeon’s challenge has dramatically increased the complexities and uncertainties of Brexit negotiations.
“Over the past few months we have worked really hard to find agreement. The prime minister and her government have been given every chance to compromise.” But Sturgeon accused May of failing to act in good faith, saying her government had hit a “brick wall of intransigence”. Sturgeon’s announcement effectively starts a two-year independence campaign that will overstretch the UK government and the civil service in Whitehall, threatening to undermine its negotiating capacity in Europe.
In particular Sturgeon cited the decision to leave the single market – revealed in the prime minister’s Lancaster House speech – without consultation. “Not just Brexit but hard Brexit,” said Sturgeon, arguing there had been a “point-blank refusal to discuss a differential approach”. Acknowledging there was not yet majority support for independence and that challenging questions about leaving the UK remained unanswered, Sturgeon insisted she had to maximise Scotland’s chances of being able to control its future relationship with the EU by pressing for independence before Brexit was ratified by EU member states.
Moreover, she said, the UK government had become even more assertive over Scotland’s powers. “If the UK leaves the EU without Scotland indicating beforehand - or at least within a short time after it - that we want a different relationship with Europe, we could face a lengthy period outside not just the EU but also the single market. That could make the task of negotiating a different future much more difficult,” she said.
“The language of partnership has gone completely. If Scotland can be ignored on an issue as important as the membership of the EU, it is clear our voice and interests can be ignored at any time.” The SNP leader said tshe wanted May to get a good deal from the EU, and would fight for Scotland’s interests during that process. With opinion polls showing less than 40% of Scottish voters in favour of a new referendum before Brexit, Downing Street said it did not believe Sturgeon had the mandate for second vote.
“But I am far from alone in fearing a bad deal or indeed no deal. Nor am I alone in fearing that even a so-called good deal will be significantly inferior to membership of the single market and that it will set Scotland on a course that will not only damage our economy but change the very nature of the society and country that we are. “Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish government defined as a ‘once in a generation’ vote,” a spokesman said.
“The problem with doing nothing now is that by the time these fears are realised it would be too late for Scotland to choose a different path.” “Another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time”.
But May’s spokesman said: “Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish government defined as a ‘once-in-a-generation’ vote. The evidence clearly shows that a majority of people in Scotland do not want a second independence referendum.” He said the government had worked closely with the devolved administrations, and there was common ground around workers’ rights, the status of EU citizens and security. Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, said Sturgeon was guilty of political opportunism. She said: “Nicola Sturgeon has today given up acting as first minister for all of Scotland.
“The Scottish government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people in Scotland.” “The first minister’s proposal offers Scotland the worst of all worlds. Her timetable would force people to vote blind on the biggest political decision a country could face. This is utterly irresponsible and has been taken by the first minister purely for partisan political reasons.”
The speech triggered an immediate response from the Conservative and Labour leaders in Scotland. Questioned about the exact offer she would put to voters on an independent Scotland’s relationship with the EU, Sturgeon carefully avoided confirming she would call for full EU membership. She also sidestepped questions on which currency an independent Scotland might use, saying the answer would come “in good time”.
Ruth Davidson, the Tory leader, said: “Nicola Sturgeon has today chosen the path of further division and uncertainty. We will vote against any request for a section 30 next week.” A section 30 order transfers power from Westminster to the Scottish parliament and is needed to trigger negotiations about how and when to hold another referendum. That suggests the Scottish government could eventually propose the so-called “Norway option” of joining the European free trade area instead of full EU membership if a large minority of pro-independence voters continued to show scepticism about full integration.
The latest opinion poll by BMG for the Herald, published on Monday, showed that 17% of yes voters in 2014 want the UK to remain in the UK, compared to only 8% of pro-remain voters switching to back independence now. That poll also confirmed only 39% of Scottish voters want a referendum vote before Brexit, adding to the challenge for Sturgeon to justify her gamble on a new poll.
“What Scotland deserves, in the light of the material change of circumstances brought about by the Brexit vote, is the chance to decide our future in a fair, free and democratic way – and at a time when we are equipped with the facts we need,” Sturgeon said.
“It is, above all, about informed choice. We know that Brexit has made change inevitable. The option of ‘no change’ is no longer available.”
In a lengthy speech at Bute House, her official residence in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said her timetable for a new referendum will start with a vote in the Scottish parliament next week to win its approval to start talks on the basic terms of the referendum with the UK government.
Under the Scotland Act, Holyrood must seek the approval of Westminster under a section 30 order to allow it to hold a referendum. The 2014 independence referendum followed lengthy talks between the two governments that culminated in the Edinburgh agreement in October 2012.
The first minister expects to narrowly win that vote after the Scottish Greens said its six MSPs would support her, giving the Scottish National party the necessary majority at Holyrood.
Sturgeon will then table a referendum bill, paving the way for a vote by autumn 2019. She told reporters on Monday she expected the legislation to be agreed early in 2018.
Scottish Labour, the Lib Dems and Scottish Tories confirmed they would oppose Sturgeon’s motion at Holyrood next week.
Labour’s Kezia Dugdale said: “Scotland is already divided enough. We do not want to be divided again, but that is exactly what another independence referendum would do.” She said that 85% of people voted in 2014’s referendum with a clear vote against independence. Dugdale said a majority had rejected the “SNP’s false hopes and lies”.Labour’s Kezia Dugdale said: “Scotland is already divided enough. We do not want to be divided again, but that is exactly what another independence referendum would do.” She said that 85% of people voted in 2014’s referendum with a clear vote against independence. Dugdale said a majority had rejected the “SNP’s false hopes and lies”.
Jeremy Corbyn said: “The 2014 Scottish independence referendum was billed as a once-in-a-generation event. The result was decisive and there is no appetite for another referendum.Jeremy Corbyn said: “The 2014 Scottish independence referendum was billed as a once-in-a-generation event. The result was decisive and there is no appetite for another referendum.
“Labour believes it would be wrong to hold another so soon and Scottish Labour will oppose it in the Scottish parliament. If, however, the Scottish parliament votes for one, Labour will not block that democratic decision at Westminster.”“Labour believes it would be wrong to hold another so soon and Scottish Labour will oppose it in the Scottish parliament. If, however, the Scottish parliament votes for one, Labour will not block that democratic decision at Westminster.”
He said that if there was a referendum Labour would oppose independence as it was not in the interests of Scotland.He said that if there was a referendum Labour would oppose independence as it was not in the interests of Scotland.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said his party would oppose another referendum. “The SNP are risking taking Scotland out of both the UK and out of the EU. Being outside both would be the worst of all worlds for Scotland.”The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, said his party would oppose another referendum. “The SNP are risking taking Scotland out of both the UK and out of the EU. Being outside both would be the worst of all worlds for Scotland.”