Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Sturgeon will give clarity on Scottish independence push in coming weeks

Published 17/01/2019, 13:25
Updated 17/01/2019, 13:30
© Reuters. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media after Parliament rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, in London

© Reuters. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media after Parliament rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, in London

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday she expects to provide more clarity on the timing of a possible new Scottish independence referendum in the coming weeks, regardless of whether the time period in which Britain leaves the European Union is extended.

Sturgeon has been under pressure from her nationalist party supporters to set another vote on independence since Britain became mired in the complexities of leaving the European Union.

She has been indicating for months that she would provide clarity on the secession issue once the outcome of Brexit was clear.

Asked to confirm if this would be in coming weeks regardless of the timing on Brexit being pushed back by an extension to the Article 50 negotiation period, she replied "yes."

"It could be that the extension of Article 50 could be a reprieve of Brexit and not a solution, so yes, there is water to go under the bridge in a matter of weeks, and when it has done so I will make my views on a choice on independence clear," she told the Scottish parliament.

Scotland, which has 8 percent of the United Kingdom's population, voted to keep its EU membership in 2016 although Britain as a whole voted to leave in a referendum. Relations between Edinburgh's devolved government and Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative government have been strained ever since.

However any binding vote on Scottish secession must take place via a so-called Section 30 order granted by Britain's parliament. In 2017, May declined to give permission for such a vote while Brexit was going on.

"That option of independence must be open and when the people of Scotland have the ability to choose, I believe that Scotland will opt to be an independent country," Sturgeon said.

© Reuters. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media after Parliament rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, in London

In a 2014 referendum, Scots voted 55 to 45 percent against breaking away from the United Kingdom. Support for independence is still at around 45 percent, though polls show increasing Scottish opposition to May's Brexit plans.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.