Scottish Parliament backs referendum call
BBC News
Scotland has been formally backed by the Scottish Parliament.
MSPs voted by 69 to 59 in favour of seeking permission for a referendum before the UK leaves the EU.
Ms Sturgeon says the move is needed to allow Scotland to decide what path to follow in the wake of the Brexit vote.
But the UK government has already said it will block a referendum until after the Brexit process has been completed.
Prime Minister Theresa May, who met Ms Sturgeon for talks in Glasgow on Monday, has repeatedly insisted that “now is not the time” for a referendum.
Her Scottish secretary, David Mundell, has said that the timescale could include “the Brexit process, the journey of leaving and people being able to understand what the UK’s new relationship with the EU is, so they can make an informed choice if there was ever to be another referendum”.
Holyrood’s indyref2 vote rejected by Westminster
The Scotsman
The UK Government has kicked Nicola Sturgeon’s bid for another independence referendum into the long grass moments after it was backed by a majority of MSPs. Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the UK Government would not consider referendum discussions until the Brexit process is complete and underlined his opposition to Ms Sturgeon’s proposal for a vote in around 18 months time.
Mr Mundell said there could be a transition period after EU withdrawal raising the possibility of a referendum being delayed until after the 2021 Scottish elections.
Mr Mundell said there could be a transition period after EU withdrawal raising the possibility of a referendum being delayed until after the 2021 Scottish elections.
After plans for another referendum were passed at Holyrood, Ms Sturgeon warned it would be “democratically indefensible and utterly unsustainable” for the UK Government to stand in the way of a second vote.
But Mr Mundell was unmoved by the vote which saw Ms Sturgeon’s referendum vote passed by 69 votes against 59 the day before Theresa May triggers Article 50 to leave the EU.
Six Scottish Green MSPs join with the 63 SNP MSPs to defeat the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems to set Holyrood on a collision course with Westminster. A Green amendment to the motion calling for 16 and 17 year-olds as well as EU citizens to be given a vote was passed by the same margin.
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Video: Scottish Parliament backs referendum call – BBC News
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