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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/13/nicola-sturgeon-challenges-may-with-second-referendum-bill-scottish-independence-snp-conference
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| Nicola Sturgeon challenges May with second referendum bill | Nicola Sturgeon challenges May with second referendum bill |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon is to publish a draft bill next week calling for a second Scottish independence referendum in a direct challenge to Theresa May’s hardline stance on Britain leaving the EU. | Nicola Sturgeon is to publish a draft bill next week calling for a second Scottish independence referendum in a direct challenge to Theresa May’s hardline stance on Britain leaving the EU. |
| The first minister told the Scottish National party conference in Glasgow she had a powerful political mandate to defend Scotland’s vote in favour of remaining in the EU in June’s vote. | The first minister told the Scottish National party conference in Glasgow she had a powerful political mandate to defend Scotland’s vote in favour of remaining in the EU in June’s vote. |
| But the UK government’s recent rhetoric and policies on immigration and remaining within the EU single market made it clear the Tory party had now been taken over by its “rampant” and xenophobic right wing. | But the UK government’s recent rhetoric and policies on immigration and remaining within the EU single market made it clear the Tory party had now been taken over by its “rampant” and xenophobic right wing. |
| To applause, Sturgeon told the prime minister: “Hear this: if you think for one single second that I’m not serious about doing what it takes to protect Scotland’s interests, then think again.” | To applause, Sturgeon told the prime minister: “Hear this: if you think for one single second that I’m not serious about doing what it takes to protect Scotland’s interests, then think again.” |
| Sturgeon then won a standing ovation when she announced that the draft Scottish independence referendum bill would be published next week – earlier than her officials had previously signalled. | Sturgeon then won a standing ovation when she announced that the draft Scottish independence referendum bill would be published next week – earlier than her officials had previously signalled. |
| The first minister said she wanted the legislation in place to trigger a second independence vote before the UK is expected to formally leave the EU in March 2019 – a stance she had recently backed away from. | The first minister said she wanted the legislation in place to trigger a second independence vote before the UK is expected to formally leave the EU in March 2019 – a stance she had recently backed away from. |
| She said: “I am determined that Scotland will have the ability to reconsider the question of independence – and to do so before the UK leaves the EU – if that is necessary to protect our country’s interests.” | She said: “I am determined that Scotland will have the ability to reconsider the question of independence – and to do so before the UK leaves the EU – if that is necessary to protect our country’s interests.” |
| Her official spokesman cautioned that this was designed to give the Scottish government a full range of options: its immediate goal was to get the strongest powers possible for Holyrood in the Brexit deal. He said Sturgeon needed to see exactly what was on the table. | Her official spokesman cautioned that this was designed to give the Scottish government a full range of options: its immediate goal was to get the strongest powers possible for Holyrood in the Brexit deal. He said Sturgeon needed to see exactly what was on the table. |
| He said the Tories were fighting a “blue on blue civil war on what they think Brexit will be. We need the UK government to give much needed clarity on what they have in mind before we can be reasonably expected to come up with a package for Scotland.” | He said the Tories were fighting a “blue on blue civil war on what they think Brexit will be. We need the UK government to give much needed clarity on what they have in mind before we can be reasonably expected to come up with a package for Scotland.” |
| Speeding up the referendum bill process opens up a deepening and increasingly significant political divide between the Scottish and UK governments, showing Sturgeon’s increasing confidence that the Tories’ shift to a harder line on Brexit has strengthened her hand. | Speeding up the referendum bill process opens up a deepening and increasingly significant political divide between the Scottish and UK governments, showing Sturgeon’s increasing confidence that the Tories’ shift to a harder line on Brexit has strengthened her hand. |
| Sturgeon faces clear short-term obstacles to staging a second vote on leaving the UK. Scottish voters are still not convinced of the case for a fast second referendum and Holyrood requires Westminster’s legal authority to stage one. | Sturgeon faces clear short-term obstacles to staging a second vote on leaving the UK. Scottish voters are still not convinced of the case for a fast second referendum and Holyrood requires Westminster’s legal authority to stage one. |
| The latest poll, published on Thursday by the Herald from BMG, found independence does not have a majority and that only 12% of voters would switch to back leaving the UK if there was a hard Brexit. It found 47% were against independence, 38% in favour and 12% undecided. | The latest poll, published on Thursday by the Herald from BMG, found independence does not have a majority and that only 12% of voters would switch to back leaving the UK if there was a hard Brexit. It found 47% were against independence, 38% in favour and 12% undecided. |
| The economics of Scottish independence are still extremely difficult: the latest GDP data showed Scotland’s economy still growing at a third of the pace of the UK’s as a whole and government data showed a £15bn Scottish spending deficit last year – 21% of overall government spending in Scotland. | The economics of Scottish independence are still extremely difficult: the latest GDP data showed Scotland’s economy still growing at a third of the pace of the UK’s as a whole and government data showed a £15bn Scottish spending deficit last year – 21% of overall government spending in Scotland. |
| The SNP leader told delegates her first objective was to win far more power for the Scottish parliament – a proposal many senior party figures including the former health secretary Alex Neil now back. | The SNP leader told delegates her first objective was to win far more power for the Scottish parliament – a proposal many senior party figures including the former health secretary Alex Neil now back. |
| Sturgeon made clear for the first time she would press May to strengthen Holyrood’s autonomy over policies currently overseen by the EU but devolved within the UK to Scotland, such as fisheries and agriculture. | Sturgeon made clear for the first time she would press May to strengthen Holyrood’s autonomy over policies currently overseen by the EU but devolved within the UK to Scotland, such as fisheries and agriculture. |
| But Sturgeon expanded that list of demands to include the right for Scotland to have special access to the single market, the freedom to have distinctive immigration policies, and the right to strike separate foreign deals, without specifying what those deals might be. | But Sturgeon expanded that list of demands to include the right for Scotland to have special access to the single market, the freedom to have distinctive immigration policies, and the right to strike separate foreign deals, without specifying what those deals might be. |
| However, Sturgeon risks losing any goodwill with May’s government by also promising on Thursday to vote against the UK government’s bill to leave the EU – regardless of the powers on offer to Holyrood. That stance is likely to entrench opposition to increased powers for Scotland among UK cabinet ministers. | However, Sturgeon risks losing any goodwill with May’s government by also promising on Thursday to vote against the UK government’s bill to leave the EU – regardless of the powers on offer to Holyrood. That stance is likely to entrench opposition to increased powers for Scotland among UK cabinet ministers. |
| Sturgeon will meet May in late October at a joint ministerial committee meeting between the prime minister and leaders of the UK’s three devolved governments, where a formal deal on involving the devolved administrations will also be signed. | Sturgeon will meet May in late October at a joint ministerial committee meeting between the prime minister and leaders of the UK’s three devolved governments, where a formal deal on involving the devolved administrations will also be signed. |
| Signalling what would be on her agenda at that meeting, Sturgeon said: “Over the next few weeks we will table specific proposals to protect Scotland’s interests in Europe and keep us in the single market – even if the rest of the UK decides to leave. | Signalling what would be on her agenda at that meeting, Sturgeon said: “Over the next few weeks we will table specific proposals to protect Scotland’s interests in Europe and keep us in the single market – even if the rest of the UK decides to leave. |
| “It’s clear that beyond hardline rhetoric the UK government has no detailed plan. So the Scottish government will set out a plan for Scotland. We will seek to make this plan a key element of the UK’s article 50 negotiation. “It will require substantial additional powers for the Scottish parliament.” | “It’s clear that beyond hardline rhetoric the UK government has no detailed plan. So the Scottish government will set out a plan for Scotland. We will seek to make this plan a key element of the UK’s article 50 negotiation. “It will require substantial additional powers for the Scottish parliament.” |
| Opposition leaders said Sturgeon could have offered a far more constructive vision for reform of Scottish domestic policies but instead had increased the divisions and conflicts with the rest of the UK. | |
| Sturgeon made clear she plans to set out new policies in her main conference address on Saturday, but Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, responded: “Her comments show she has given up on speaking for Scotland and is now solely playing to the SNP gallery. “This isn’t the action of a first minister of Scotland but an SNP fundamentalist who puts independence first, last and always.” | |
| Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s top priority is to divide our nation once again. But our country is already divided following the Tories’ reckless Brexit gamble and we should not be seeking further divisions. | |
| “Our economy is in trouble, and the last thing we need is the uncertainty of another independence referendum.” |