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Scottish independence: Nicola Sturgeon to set out 'unarguable' case for indyref2 Scottish independence: Sturgeon requests powers for referendum
(about 1 hour later)
Scotland's first minister is to claim that the case for a new independence referendum is now "unarguable" in the wake of last week's general election. Scotland's first minister has called on the UK government to negotiate a transfer of powers to Holyrood to allow another referendum on independence.
Nicola Sturgeon, whose SNP won 48 of the 59 seats in Scotland, will publish a document laying out a "detailed case" for indyref2. Nicola Sturgeon said there was an "unarguable" mandate for a new vote after her SNP won 48 of Scotland's 59 seats in last week's general election.
And she will call on the UK government to transfer powers to Holyrood that would ensure any vote was legal. She said a document containing her arguments and draft legislation will be sent to the UK government today.
The UK government remains opposed to holding another referendum. Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains opposed to holding another referendum.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has argued that the result of the independence referendum in 2014 - when voters backed remaining in the UK by 55% to 45% - should be respected. He has argued that the result of the independence referendum in 2014 - when voters backed remaining in the UK by 55% to 45% - should be respected.
He has promised to include commitments aimed at strengthening the union when it outlines its plans for the future in a Queen's Speech at Westminster later on Thursday. And he has promised to include commitments aimed at strengthening the union when it outlines its plans for the future in a Queen's Speech at Westminster later on Thursday.
And he argues that another referendum would be a "damaging distraction" from his goal of making 2020 a "year of opportunity, growth and unity for Scotland, not of further division". But Ms Sturgeon warned the prime minister that a "flat no" to her request for another referendum would not be the end of the matter.
Ms Sturgeon wants to hold another referendum in the second half of 2020, and believes the election result has made the case for this "overwhelmingly clear". The first minister says she wants to hold indyref2 in the second half of 2020, and believes the election result has made the case for this "overwhelmingly clear".
The pro-independence SNP won a landslide in Scotland, while the Conservatives lost seven of their 13 seats north of the border despite winning a big majority across the UK as a whole.The pro-independence SNP won a landslide in Scotland, while the Conservatives lost seven of their 13 seats north of the border despite winning a big majority across the UK as a whole.
Ms Sturgeon will publish a new paper on Thursday morning titled Scotland's Right to Choose, which will argue that "consensus is growing by the day" in Scotland for a second referendum, and that there is a "clear mandate for this nation to choose its own future". Ms Sturgeon has published a paper arguing that "consensus is growing by the day" in Scotland for a second referendum, and that there is a "clear mandate for this nation to choose its own future".
She will also call on the UK government to drop its opposition and agree to grant a so-called section 30 order to put the legality of any referendum beyond doubt - as happened ahead of the 2014 referendum. In a statement at her official Bute House residence, she said: "We are therefore today calling for the UK government to negotiate and agree the transfer of power that would put beyond doubt the Scottish Parliament's right to legislate for a referendum on independence.
The first minister has already ruled out holding an unofficial referendum similar to the one in Catalonia in 2017. "I anticipate that in the short term we will simply hear a restatement of the UK government's opposition. But they should be under no illusion that this will be an end of the matter."
Ms Sturgeon will say: "The demand for this country to have the right to determine its own path comes not just from me as first minister - it flows from the people of Scotland and the verdict they delivered last week. The paper published by Ms Sturgeon includes draft legislation which would give Holyrood the power to call referendums, although she said she was open to negotiations about the details of how this would work.
"The Scottish government believes that right should be exercised free from the threat of legal challenge. We understand that a referendum must be accepted as legitimate, here in Scotland and the UK, as well as in the EU and the wider international community. She said: "It is a fundamental democratic principle that decisions on Scotland's constitutional future should rest with the people who live here.
"Today I urge people in Scotland to rally round the case for Scotland's right to choose - our right to self-determination." "The Scottish government has a clear democratic mandate to offer people a choice on that future in an independence referendum, and the UK government has a democratic duty to recognise that.
It comes on the same day as the devolved Scottish Parliament is expected to pass legislation that could help pave the way to a referendum. "The mandate we have to offer the Scottish people a choice over their future is, by any normal standard of democracy, unarguable."
The move comes on the same day as the devolved Scottish Parliament is expected to pass legislation that could help pave the way to a referendum.
The bill is expected to pass on Thursday afternoon with the backing of the SNP and Scottish Greens, although Holyrood's three pro-union parties - the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems - are expected to vote against it.The bill is expected to pass on Thursday afternoon with the backing of the SNP and Scottish Greens, although Holyrood's three pro-union parties - the Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems - are expected to vote against it.
While the polls have narrowed in recent months, they still generally give a slender lead to the pro-UK side.While the polls have narrowed in recent months, they still generally give a slender lead to the pro-UK side.
The Conservative election campaign in Scotland was centred on opposition to independence and a referendum, and the prime minister has since told Ms Sturgeon that he "remains opposed" to a new vote.The Conservative election campaign in Scotland was centred on opposition to independence and a referendum, and the prime minister has since told Ms Sturgeon that he "remains opposed" to a new vote.
The UK government's Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, claimed earlier this week that people in Scotland were "fed up with constant division and uncertainty".The UK government's Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, claimed earlier this week that people in Scotland were "fed up with constant division and uncertainty".
And he again pledged that the government "will not support the first minister's plans for another unwanted referendum on separation".And he again pledged that the government "will not support the first minister's plans for another unwanted referendum on separation".
Mr Jack added: "We want 2020 to be a year of growth and opportunity for Scotland and the whole of the United Kingdom - not more political wrangling and wasteful debate.Mr Jack added: "We want 2020 to be a year of growth and opportunity for Scotland and the whole of the United Kingdom - not more political wrangling and wasteful debate.
"We will unleash the potential of every part of the UK and focus on the issues that matter - boosting jobs and helping with the cost of living."We will unleash the potential of every part of the UK and focus on the issues that matter - boosting jobs and helping with the cost of living.
"Remaining part of a strong United Kingdom is worth more than £10bn in public spending in Scotland each year, and through the latest spending round Scotland will receive a further £1.2bn cash boost.""Remaining part of a strong United Kingdom is worth more than £10bn in public spending in Scotland each year, and through the latest spending round Scotland will receive a further £1.2bn cash boost."