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| Scottish independence: Theresa May 'should not block referendum' | Scottish independence: Theresa May 'should not block referendum' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Theresa May should not try to block First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's plans for a second independence referendum, the Scottish National Party has warned. | Theresa May should not try to block First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's plans for a second independence referendum, the Scottish National Party has warned. |
| Deputy leader Angus Robertson said he did not want to "sit in the back of the Tory Brexit bus... and see the prime minister drive us off a Brexit cliff". | Deputy leader Angus Robertson said he did not want to "sit in the back of the Tory Brexit bus... and see the prime minister drive us off a Brexit cliff". |
| Mrs May has so far not said whether she would give permission for a vote. | Mrs May has so far not said whether she would give permission for a vote. |
| But there has been speculation she will delay Ms Sturgeon's timetable until after the Brexit process is complete. | But there has been speculation she will delay Ms Sturgeon's timetable until after the Brexit process is complete. |
| Ms Sturgeon said on Monday that she wanted a referendum to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of the following year - and has called for Holyrood to be given the power to decide the exact date. | Ms Sturgeon said on Monday that she wanted a referendum to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of the following year - and has called for Holyrood to be given the power to decide the exact date. |
| The BBC's Scotland editor, Sarah Smith, said the prime minister could refuse to allow another vote on independence before Brexit is completed in two years' time. | The BBC's Scotland editor, Sarah Smith, said the prime minister could refuse to allow another vote on independence before Brexit is completed in two years' time. |
| That would allow the UK government to avoid having to fight on two fronts by negotiating a deal with the EU in the midst of an intense independence referendum campaign. | That would allow the UK government to avoid having to fight on two fronts by negotiating a deal with the EU in the midst of an intense independence referendum campaign. |
| Formal negotiations over the timing of any referendum will not begin until after a vote in the Scottish Parliament that is scheduled for next Tuesday, which will ask the UK government to grant a Section 30 order. | Formal negotiations over the timing of any referendum will not begin until after a vote in the Scottish Parliament that is scheduled for next Tuesday, which will ask the UK government to grant a Section 30 order. |
| The order is needed for the result of the referendum to be legally binding. | The order is needed for the result of the referendum to be legally binding. |
| The minority SNP government is expected to win the vote with the support of the pro-independence Scottish Greens. | The minority SNP government is expected to win the vote with the support of the pro-independence Scottish Greens. |
| Analysis by Prof John Curtice, Strathclyde University | Analysis by Prof John Curtice, Strathclyde University |
| Two important questions arise from Nicola Sturgeon's announcement that she will seek a second independence referendum. | Two important questions arise from Nicola Sturgeon's announcement that she will seek a second independence referendum. |
| First, do voters in Scotland want a second referendum? And second, how might they vote if an independence referendum were to be held any time soon? | First, do voters in Scotland want a second referendum? And second, how might they vote if an independence referendum were to be held any time soon? |
| During recent months a number of polls have asked people in a variety of different ways whether there should be a second independence referendum within the next couple of years. | During recent months a number of polls have asked people in a variety of different ways whether there should be a second independence referendum within the next couple of years. |
| They have all obtained much the same answer. Around a half say there should not be, while between a third and two-fifths say there should. | They have all obtained much the same answer. Around a half say there should not be, while between a third and two-fifths say there should. |
| Read more from Prof Curtice | Read more from Prof Curtice |
| Mr Robertson told the BBC's Newsnight programme that the SNP was democratically elected on a mandate to hold a referendum in the event of the UK leaving the EU against Scotland's wishes. | Mr Robertson told the BBC's Newsnight programme that the SNP was democratically elected on a mandate to hold a referendum in the event of the UK leaving the EU against Scotland's wishes. |
| He added: "I just cannot see how a democratically elected UK government will say to a democratically elected Scottish government which was elected on a mandate to hold a referendum, 'one's not going to allow a democratic vote'. | He added: "I just cannot see how a democratically elected UK government will say to a democratically elected Scottish government which was elected on a mandate to hold a referendum, 'one's not going to allow a democratic vote'. |
| He added: "We have two options. One is to sit in the back of the Tory Brexit bus, shut up, say nothing, and see the prime minister drive us off a Brexit cliff. | He added: "We have two options. One is to sit in the back of the Tory Brexit bus, shut up, say nothing, and see the prime minister drive us off a Brexit cliff. |
| "Or we have the opportunity of the people of Scotland having the power in their hands in a referendum about our country's future." | "Or we have the opportunity of the people of Scotland having the power in their hands in a referendum about our country's future." |
| The UK Parliament passed the Brexit bill on Monday evening, paving the way for the government to trigger Article 50, which will begin the formal process of leaving the European Union. | The UK Parliament passed the Brexit bill on Monday evening, paving the way for the government to trigger Article 50, which will begin the formal process of leaving the European Union. |
| The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent and become law on Tuesday, which leaves Mrs May free to push the button on withdrawal talks - now expected in the last week of March. |