Scottish Government to draw up legislation for second independence referendum

THE Scottish Government will draw up legislation to allow a second independence referendum to be held, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

While the UK as a whole voted to leave the European Union, Scots overwhelmingly opted to remain, with Ms Sturgeon declaring the result meant there had been a “significant and material change in the circumstances in which Scotland voted against independence” in 2014.

WATCH: Nicola Sturgeon’s speech

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She said: “As things stand, Scotland faces the prospect of being taken out of the EU against our will. I regard that as democratically unacceptable.”

The First Minister said it is now “highly likely” that there will anothervote on Scotland’s place in the UK in the next two years.

Speaking at her official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh, she said: “I intend to take all possible steps and explore all possible options to give effect to how people in Scotland voted – in other words to secure our continuing place in the EU, and in the single market in particular.”

The SNP manifesto for May’s Holyrood elections said the Scottish Parliament “should have the right to hold another referendum if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will”.

Ms Sturgeon said: “It is, therefore, a statement of the obvious that a second referendum must be on the table, and it is on the table.”

All 32 local authority areas north of the border returned a majority for Remain in the EU referendum, with the country voting by 62% to 38% in favour of Remain.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Unfortunately, of course, yesterday’s result in Scotland was not echoed across the whole of the United Kingdom. The UK-wide vote to leave the EU is one that I deeply regret.

“The vote across England and Wales was a rejection of the EU and it was a sign of divergence between Scotland and large parts of the rest of the UK and how we see our place in the rest of the world.”

The Scottish Government’s resilience committee, which meets in times of emergency, is due to meet this afternoon, Ms Sturgeon said.

Ministers will seek “direct discussions” with EU institutions and member states, with Ms Sturgeon saying she would “make clear that Scotland has voted to stay in the EU and I intend to discuss all options for doing so”.

The Scottish Cabinet will meet on Saturday while the First Minister will make a statement to MSPs at Holyrood on Tuesday.

Ms Sturgeon stressed, however, there are “many discussions to be had before final decisions can be taken” and said: “It would not be right to rush to judgements ahead to discussions on how Scotland’s result will be responded to by the EU.”

She went on to state that when the UK Government triggers the Article 50 process to withdraw from Europe, “the UK will be on a two-year path to the EU exit door”.

The SNP leader added: “If Parliament judges that a second referendum is the best or only way to protect our place in Europe, it must have the option to hold one within that timescale.

“That means we must act now to protect that position.

“I can therefore confirm today in order to protect that position we will begin to prepare the legislation that will be required to enable a new independence referendum to take place if and when Parliament so decides.”

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