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Sturgeon to 'move forward' with plans for indyref2 Nicola Sturgeon: 'No rational reason' for Theresa May to block indyref2
(35 minutes later)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will set out ways to "move forward" with an independence referendum despite the UK government refusing permission. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there is "no rational reason" for the UK government to block a second Scottish independence referendum.
Ms Sturgeon has written to Prime Minister Theresa May asking for a Section 30 order to allow Holyrood to legislate for a referendum.Ms Sturgeon has written to Prime Minister Theresa May asking for a Section 30 order to allow Holyrood to legislate for a referendum.
The UK government said it had "already rejected" this request. The UK government has said it has "already rejected" this request.
Ms Sturgeon said she would come back to Holyrood in the coming weeks to update MSPs on how she would "move forward".Ms Sturgeon said she would come back to Holyrood in the coming weeks to update MSPs on how she would "move forward".
MSPs voted by 69 to 59 to mandate the Edinburgh government to open talks with its London counterpart over an independence vote.MSPs voted by 69 to 59 to mandate the Edinburgh government to open talks with its London counterpart over an independence vote.
Citing that 62% of those who voted in Scotland in the EU referendum had backed Remain, Ms Sturgeon argues that the country being taken out of the EU and the single market is "clearly against the will of the majority of people who live here".Citing that 62% of those who voted in Scotland in the EU referendum had backed Remain, Ms Sturgeon argues that the country being taken out of the EU and the single market is "clearly against the will of the majority of people who live here".
'Now is not the time''Now is not the time'
However Mrs May has repeatedly said "now is not the time" for a new vote arguing all focus should be on the Brexit talks. However, Mrs May has repeatedly said "now is not the time" for a new vote, arguing that all focus should be on the Brexit talks and saying a referendum in the short-term would not be fair on Scottish voters.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the UK government "won't be entering into any negotiations at all until the Brexit process is complete". Ms Sturgeon, who has previously said she suspects the UK government may use Brexit as a "power grab", said that refusing permission for a vote would "go against the very foundations of devolution".
Ms Sturgeon said that the Westminster government refusing permission for a vote would "go against the very foundations of devolution". In her letter to the prime minister, Ms Sturgeon said the voices of devolved administrations had been "largely ignored" so far in the Brexit process, adding that "all attempts at compromise" had been "rejected, in most cases with no prior consultation".
Ms Sturgeon said: "I hope the prime minister changes her mind, and acknowledges that the people of Scotland are entitled to a choice, at a time and in a way that is right for Scotland. She said the two sides were in agreement about the timetable of the Brexit negotiations over the next two years, adding that there was "clear precedent" in the 2012 Edinburgh Agreement, which gave permission for the 2014 referendum.
"However if she doesn't, as I expect she won't - at least not yet - I will come back to the Scottish Parliament in a few weeks time with an update on how we're going to move forward to ensure the people of Scotland are able to choose our future, when we have the information we need both about Brexit and independence, and while there is still time to take a different path." She said: "There appears to be no rational reason for you to stand in the way of the will of the Scottish Parliament and I hope you will not do so.
"However, in anticipation of your refusal to enter into discussions at this stage, it is important for me to be clear about my position.
"It is my firm view that the mandate of the Scottish Parliament must be respected and progressed. The question is not if, but how.
"I hope that will be by constructive discussion between our governments. However, if that is not yet possible, I will set out to the Scottish Parliament the steps I intend to take to ensure that progress is made towards a referendum."
'Crucial decision'
A spokesman for the UK government said: "The prime minister has been clear that now is not the time for a second independence referendum, and we will not be entering into negotiations on the Scottish Government's proposal.A spokesman for the UK government said: "The prime minister has been clear that now is not the time for a second independence referendum, and we will not be entering into negotiations on the Scottish Government's proposal.
"At this point, all our focus should be on our negotiations with the European Union, making sure we get the right deal for the whole of the UK."At this point, all our focus should be on our negotiations with the European Union, making sure we get the right deal for the whole of the UK.
"It would be unfair to the people of Scotland to ask them to make a crucial decision without the necessary information about our future relationship with Europe, or what an independent Scotland would look like.""It would be unfair to the people of Scotland to ask them to make a crucial decision without the necessary information about our future relationship with Europe, or what an independent Scotland would look like."
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the UK government "won't be entering into any negotiations at all until the Brexit process is complete".
He added: "We don't have a crystal ball as to how long that process will take. We don't recognise, for example, 18 months as being a key point in the journey.
"It will be a journey that will involve the negotiations with the EU, it may be a journey that involves transitional measures, it may be a journey that involves significant implementation time."