Nicola Sturgeon to seek second Scottish independence referendum

“I think it is right for Scotland to have a choice”, she said.

Ms Sturgeon said they must have a plan for Scotland for a way forward after Brexit is triggered, saying that doing nothing would mean letting Scotland drift through the next two years with fingers crossed.

“Today she has ignored the majority in Scotland who do not want a referendum and has decided instead to double down on division and uncertainty”.

‘Scotland needs to have a genuine choice, ‘ she said.

Sturgeon stopped short of naming a date for the referendum, but said it must take place while there was still time for Scotland to remain within the bloc.

“We will never waver in our determination to stand up for the decision we made as a country in 2014 and unlike Labour we will fight the SNP every step of the way”.

Sterling, 2017’s worst-performing currency, climbed against all of its Group-of-10 peers, even as the call for another independence vote threatens to further complicate the U.K.’s outlook as it prepares to trigger Brexit.

She said that given the “collapse of the Labour party” there could be a “prolonged period” of Conservative rule until at least 2030 and of power being centralised in London.

She added it could be fast-tracked because it already complies with European Union rules and regulations.

The survey from YouGov finds 37% of Scots backed a second independence referendum and 50% were against.

She said the choice between independence and a hard Brexit should be taken between fall 2018 and spring 2019.

Demonstrators are gathering outside the British Parliament in advance of a vital debate on Britain’s planned exit from the European Union.

But with Britain, if not Scotland, voting for Brexit, the political ground has shifted.

Following the Brexit result Scotland’s First Minister has warned many times that there may be a second referendum. Now the United Kingdom government grants Scotland £1,600 more per person than it spends per person in England under the barnet formula.