Nicola Sturgeon says she believes a second referendum on Scottish independence is “highly likely” after the UK overall voted to leave the EU. First minister says it is ‘democratically unacceptable’ that Scotland would be taken out of EU against its will.
She said her government had started the process of preparing legislation at Holyrood to pave the way for a second vote before the UK formally quits the EU in about two years.
Speaking in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said she was deeply disappointed by the result of the UK referendum but said it had exposed a clear divide between Scottish and English voters, after Scotland voted heavily in favour of remaining.
She said that divide met her government’s central test before holding a second vote on independence of “a material change” in Scotland’s position within the UK.
“It is a significant material change in circumstances. It’s a statement of the obvious that the option of a second independence referendum must be on the table and it is on the table,” she said.
SNP sources and activists within Women for Independence (WFI) said there had been a surge in membership, with people offering to campaign and donating money for a second referendum.
The SNP said it was being inundated with emails from previous no voters now pledging their support for independence following the conclusion of the EU referendum. “The surge is back,” said one WFI activist.
Sturgeon disclosed the Scottish government would seek urgent talks with the European commission and other member states to make clear Scotland wanted to remain within the EU – a clear hint she is hoping the EU will back the country’s continued membership before the UK formally leaves.
Parliament “must have the option to hold a referendum. I can therefore confirm today, in order to protect that position, we’re beginning now to prepare the legislation that would be required to enable a new independence referendum to take place”.
She added that it was “democratically unacceptable” that Scotland would be taken out of the EU against its will after the UK as a whole voted to back the leave campaign.
Scotland voted to remain in the European Union by 62% to 38%. The UK as a whole voted to leave by 52% to 48%.
Staff count ballot papers at the Emirates
Earlier, Alex Salmond said he was certain Nicola Sturgeon would call for a second Scottish independence referendum after the UK voted to leave the EU.
The former first minister and Scottish National party (SNP) leader said Scotland must stage a second independence vote before the UK’s exit was agreed – a process expected to take two years to negotiate.
He too said the Brexit vote constituted a material change in Scotland’s position within the UK, telling BBC Radio Scotland: “This changes the whole context of Scottish independence.”
Sturgeon implied she planned to press ahead with a second referendum by insisting she wanted to “take all possible steps and explore all 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.”
Source: Guardian, 24 June 2016
