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Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland's future 'should not be imposed' Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland's future 'should not be imposed'
(35 minutes later)
Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that Scotland's future should be decided by Scottish people rather than being "imposed upon us". Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that Scotland's future should be decided by the people who live there rather than being "imposed upon us".
The first minister was speaking as she asked Holyrood to back her call for a second independence referendum.The first minister was speaking as she asked Holyrood to back her call for a second independence referendum.
Ms Sturgeon wants a vote to be held in the autumn of next year or the spring of 2019.Ms Sturgeon wants a vote to be held in the autumn of next year or the spring of 2019.
But the UK government has already said it would block the move until after the country leaves the EU.But the UK government has already said it would block the move until after the country leaves the EU.
Ms Sturgeon's minority SNP government is asking the Scottish Parliament to back its plans to ask Westminster for a section 30 order, which is needed to make a referendum legally binding.Ms Sturgeon's minority SNP government is asking the Scottish Parliament to back its plans to ask Westminster for a section 30 order, which is needed to make a referendum legally binding.
The government is expected to win Wednesday's vote with the support of the Scottish Greens - despite opposition from the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats.The government is expected to win Wednesday's vote with the support of the Scottish Greens - despite opposition from the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats.
They argue that most people do not want another referendum, and that it will only lead to greater division and uncertainty in the country.They argue that most people do not want another referendum, and that it will only lead to greater division and uncertainty in the country.
Ms Sturgeon acknowledged to MSPs that many people do not relish the prospect of another referendum, but insisted that the only alternative was "simply to drift through the next two years, crossing our fingers, hoping for the best while fearing the worst."Ms Sturgeon acknowledged to MSPs that many people do not relish the prospect of another referendum, but insisted that the only alternative was "simply to drift through the next two years, crossing our fingers, hoping for the best while fearing the worst."
She added: "It would mean accepting that at the end of this process we will not even have the option of choosing an alternative path, and that the direction of our nation will be decided for us.She added: "It would mean accepting that at the end of this process we will not even have the option of choosing an alternative path, and that the direction of our nation will be decided for us.
"I do not consider that to be right, or fair. The future of Scotland should not be imposed upon us, it should be the choice of the people of Scotland.""I do not consider that to be right, or fair. The future of Scotland should not be imposed upon us, it should be the choice of the people of Scotland."
Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government had made a number of compromise proposals aimed at protecting Scotland from the "impact" of Brexit.Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government had made a number of compromise proposals aimed at protecting Scotland from the "impact" of Brexit.
And she insisted that "had any one of these proposals been accepted by the UK government, we would not be having this debate today".And she insisted that "had any one of these proposals been accepted by the UK government, we would not be having this debate today".
The first minister said a manifesto commitment to hold a vote of independence in the event of a "material change in circumstances" from the 2014 referendum gave her an "unquestionable democratic mandate".The first minister said a manifesto commitment to hold a vote of independence in the event of a "material change in circumstances" from the 2014 referendum gave her an "unquestionable democratic mandate".
And she said that attempting to block a referendum "runs the real risk of undermining the democratic process".And she said that attempting to block a referendum "runs the real risk of undermining the democratic process".
She added: "All of this raises fundamental questions for Scotland. If the UK government can ignore this parliament on one of the most fundamental issues that the country faces, what meaning can ever be attached to the idea that the UK is a partnership of equals?" Ms Sturgeon added: "All of this raises fundamental questions for Scotland. If the UK government can ignore this parliament on one of the most fundamental issues that the country faces, what meaning can ever be attached to the idea that the UK is a partnership of equals?"
'Take responsibility' On the key question of timing of any vote, she insisted this should be for Holyrood to decide, as it had done in the 2014 independence referendum - when Scotland voted by 55% to 45% to remain in the UK.
But she said the UK government should "set out a clear alternative and the rationale for it" if it did not agree with her timescale.
Mr Sturgeon added: "As I have said in recent days, I am, within reason, happy to have that discussion to see if we can find common ground that I can then propose to this parliament."
Analysis by Philip Sim, BBC Scotland political reporter
The debate in parliament is likely to take on the air of an episode of Sportscene or Match of the Day where you already know the scores - we know who's going to win, but it will be interesting to see how the goals are scored.
What will be important is what happens next - how the impasse between the Edinburgh and London governments is settled.
Tellingly, the Conservative amendment for the debate calls for no vote "before April 2019" - a month which might just fit into Nicola Sturgeon's stated timetable, which included a period "within a short time after" Brexit is complete.
But if Mr Mundell's position holds and the UK government spurns any discussion during the Brexit process, that could push back a potential referendum until sometime in 2020 at the earliest.
Follow @BBCPhilipSim on Twitter
Prime Minister Theresa May said last week that "now is not the time" for a referendum, insisting that the focus should instead be on getting the best deal for the whole of the UK during the forthcoming negotiations with the EU.Prime Minister Theresa May said last week that "now is not the time" for a referendum, insisting that the focus should instead be on getting the best deal for the whole of the UK during the forthcoming negotiations with the EU.
However Mrs May, who will formally notify the EU next Wednesday that the UK is leaving, did not rule out a vote on independence being held after Brexit.However Mrs May, who will formally notify the EU next Wednesday that the UK is leaving, did not rule out a vote on independence being held after Brexit.
Her Scottish secretary, David Mundell, later clarified that the UK government "will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement" during the Brexit talks, and that any request "at this time" will be declined.Her Scottish secretary, David Mundell, later clarified that the UK government "will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement" during the Brexit talks, and that any request "at this time" will be declined.
The Scottish Conservatives have tabled an amendment calling for Holyrood to rule out a referendum before April 2019 - the month after the UK is expected to leave the EU.The Scottish Conservatives have tabled an amendment calling for Holyrood to rule out a referendum before April 2019 - the month after the UK is expected to leave the EU.
The party's leader, Ruth Davidson, said the Scottish government's number one priority was "separation not education" and called on the first minister to "take responsibility". The party's leader, Ruth Davidson, said that most people in Scotland are "sick to death of the SNP's games".
She referenced the first minister's previous comments that having another referendum would not happen without a change in public opinion and said this had not occurred. She added: "They don't want another referendum any time soon, just three years after the last one. The SNP's plan was not actually about trying to hold a fair, legal and decisive referendum.
Ms Davidson said: "The people of Scotland don't want this and it won't wash to have a first minister standing there, washing her hands, saying 'It's not me that's dragging us there, it's with a heavy heart, a big Tory did this and ran away'. "It was about a well-rehearsed game to put forward unworkable proposals, wait for Westminster politicians to point that out, then rush to any nearby microphone - angry face attached - to trot out the same old tired complaints."
"It won't do, first minister, take responsibility." 'Stronger together'
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale pledged that the party would "campaign with everything we have to remain in the UK".
She told MSPs: "I believe in the United Kingdom not as a symbol of past glories or purest ideology, but as a living, breathing union of nations that delivers for the people of Scotland.
Ms Dugdale also said the UK would be "stronger together, more so than we could ever be apart", and accused the SNP of wanting to "replace Tory austerity with turbo-charged austerity".
Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said it was "absurd to suggest that we should not respond to and react to the fundamentally-changed circumstances we now find ourselves in."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the Scottish Parliament had been "systematically undermined by the SNP when it does not agree with the SNP", highlighting votes which he said the SNP had lost and then ignored.