Scottish independence: Nicola Sturgeon says Scots could vote on leaving the UK next year

Second referendum: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants a second vote on independence
PA
Robin de Peyer9 March 2017
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Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has suggested it could be “common sense” to hold another referendum on independence next year.

While insisting that no final decision had yet been made on whether to hold another vote, she said she was not “bluffing” about the possibility.

Ms Sturgeon said a second referendum was “highly likely” after last year’s Brexit vote, in which Scotland voted by 62 per cent to 38 per cent to remain in the EU.

Asked about the possibility of another independence vote in autumn 2018, she told the BBC: “Within that window. I guess when the sort of outline of a UK deal becomes clear on the UK exiting the EU, I think would be the common sense time for Scotland to have that choice, if that is the road we choose to go down.

"I'm not ruling anything out."

Writing in The Times newspaper last week, Ms Sturgeon said she had chosen to hold off exercising her mandate immediately to explore other options to protects Scotland's place in Europe.

Ms Sturgeon has put forward proposals for a "differentiated deal" which could see Scotland remain part of the European single market through membership of the European Economic Area.

In January, former first minister Alex Salmond said a vote on Scottish independence could take place in autumn 2018.

The ex-SNP leader made the suggestion after his successor Ms Sturgeon warned the Prime Minister's plan to take the UK out of the European single market "undoubtedly" makes another vote on the future of the UK more likely.

In the September 2014 referendum Scots voted by 55 per cent to 45 per cent to stay part of the United Kingdom.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: "This is yet another attempt by Nicola Sturgeon to sow division and uncertainty, at a time when the country needs to pull together more than ever.”

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