This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/19/nicola-sturgeon-requests-independence-referendum-powers

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nicola Sturgeon requests independence referendum powers Sturgeon demands independence referendum powers be devolved to Holyrood
(about 2 hours later)
Scottish first minister writes formally to Johnson, saying there is ‘unarguable mandate’ Scotland’s first minister writes formally to Johnson, saying there is ‘unarguable mandate’
Nicola Sturgeon has written to Boris Johnson to demand the transfer of legal powers to the Scottish government to hold a second independence referendum. Nicola Sturgeon has called for the Scottish parliament to be given the permanent powers to hold subsequent referendums on independence from the UK.
Describing the SNP’s success in last week’s general election as an “unarguable mandate by any normal standard of democracy”, Sturgeon confirmed on Thursday morning that she had formally requested the ability to legally stage another referendum under section 30 of the Scotland Act as she published a document setting out the “clear democratic case for transfer of powers”. Describing the SNP’s success in last week’s general election as an “unarguable mandate by any normal standard of democracy”, Scotland’s first minister confirmed on Thursday morning that she had formally written to Boris Johnson to request the powers to legally stage another referendum under section 30 of the 1998 Scotland Act.
But the 38-page document also sets out draft amendments to legislation which would permanently transfer the right to hold independence referendums to the Scottish parliament. Alongside this, the SNP leader published a 38-page document which also sets out draft amendments to the statute which would devolve the right to hold votes on leaving the UK to Holyrood.
Entitled “Scotland’s Right to Choose”, the publication argues that there has been a “material change of circumstance” since the independence referendum of 2014, based on “the prospect of Scotland leaving the EU against its will and what EU exit has revealed about Scotland’s position within the UK”. Insisting that she was not advocating for a third independence referendum – “not least because I think when Scotland gets the chance to vote again it will vote for independence” – she refused to rule one out for ever, underlining that no first minister could bind the hands of their successors over the right to self-determination.
Launching the document at an event at her official residence of Bute House, in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said that she “fully expected to get a flat no” from Westminster initially. Entitled Scotland’s Right to Choose, the publication argues that there has been a “material change of circumstance” since the independence referendum of 2014, based on “the prospect of Scotland leaving the EU against its will and what EU exit has revealed about Scotland’s position within the UK”.
Launching the document at an event at her official residence of Bute House, in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said she “fully expected to get a flat no” from Westminster initially.
“I’m going to stand my ground. I fully expect today we will get the flat no of Westminster opposition but that will not be the end of the matter and Boris Johnson should not be under any illusion that it is.”
Johnson will use the Queen’s speech on Thursday to confirm that a second independence referendum next year would be a “damaging distraction”, while setting out investment in the Scottish economy.Johnson will use the Queen’s speech on Thursday to confirm that a second independence referendum next year would be a “damaging distraction”, while setting out investment in the Scottish economy.
Sturgeon said: “Of course, 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. Describing the Tory strategy as “self-defeating”, Sturgeon insisted that continued refusal to allow the Scottish people their right to choose would only boost support for independence.
“In this context, the question is often posed to me: what will you do if the prime minister says no? She added: “I am not simply firing off a letter to Boris Johnson, I am publishing a detailed and considered case.” She said that when she spoke to Johnson immediately after the election results he had committed to engaging seriously with the proposals.
“But the document we are publishing today turns the question on its head.
“It is for the prime minister to defend why he believes the UK is not a voluntary union of equal nations. It is for him to set out why he does not believe people in Scotland have the right to self-determination.
“And it is for the prime minister to explain why he believes it is acceptable to ignore election after election in Scotland and to override a democratic mandate stronger than the one he claims for his Brexit deal.”
Since securing 47 out of Scotland’s 59 Westminster seats with an increased vote share of 45% last Thursday, Sturgeon has described the general election as a “watershed moment” and declared that Scotland cannot be “imprisoned in the UK against its will”.Since securing 47 out of Scotland’s 59 Westminster seats with an increased vote share of 45% last Thursday, Sturgeon has described the general election as a “watershed moment” and declared that Scotland cannot be “imprisoned in the UK against its will”.
But, despite Westminster’s chaotic handling of Brexit and Johnson’s unpopularity among Scottish voters, the expected long-term boost to support for independence has not materialised, with polls showing support averaging around 48%.But, despite Westminster’s chaotic handling of Brexit and Johnson’s unpopularity among Scottish voters, the expected long-term boost to support for independence has not materialised, with polls showing support averaging around 48%.
On Thursday afternoon a separate bill setting out how referendums in Scotland will be run will reach its final stage at Holyrood. But this framework bill does not set the date or question on the ballot, which have to be specified in further primary legislation.On Thursday afternoon a separate bill setting out how referendums in Scotland will be run will reach its final stage at Holyrood. But this framework bill does not set the date or question on the ballot, which have to be specified in further primary legislation.
The Electoral Commission confirmed on Monday that the bill had accepted its recommendation of a minimum 10-week campaign period. Added to the required 26-week lead-in period, that would mean a referendum would need nine months from the passing of legislation in Holyrood to polling day, making the holding of one in 2020 look increasingly challenging.The Electoral Commission confirmed on Monday that the bill had accepted its recommendation of a minimum 10-week campaign period. Added to the required 26-week lead-in period, that would mean a referendum would need nine months from the passing of legislation in Holyrood to polling day, making the holding of one in 2020 look increasingly challenging.