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| Sturgeon drops plans for 2nd Scottish independence referendum until after Brexit deal | Sturgeon drops plans for 2nd Scottish independence referendum until after Brexit deal |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scottish first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Nicola Sturgeon says she will delay her plans for a second independence referendum until after Brexit negotiations have concluded in autumn 2018. | Scottish first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Nicola Sturgeon says she will delay her plans for a second independence referendum until after Brexit negotiations have concluded in autumn 2018. |
| The First Minister said there is “no doubt” her government has a mandate to call a second referendum. | The First Minister said there is “no doubt” her government has a mandate to call a second referendum. |
| She did, however, say it is important to “reset” the debate until after Brexit negotiations have progressed. | |
| “We will not seek to introduce the legislation for an independence referendum immediately,” she told MSPs. | “We will not seek to introduce the legislation for an independence referendum immediately,” she told MSPs. |
| The “uncertainty” of the Brexit process is now her priority and her party is focused on doing “everything in our power to get the best deal out of Brexit - the best deal for Scotland,” she added. | The “uncertainty” of the Brexit process is now her priority and her party is focused on doing “everything in our power to get the best deal out of Brexit - the best deal for Scotland,” she added. |
| “The Scottish government remains committed - strongly - to the principle of giving Scotland a choice at the end of this [Brexit] process. | |
| “But I want to reassure people that our proposal is not for a referendum now or before there is sufficient clarity about the options - but rather to give them a choice at the end of the Brexit process when that clarity has emerged.” | |
| Responding to Sturgeon's speech in the Holyrood parliament, Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson told the First Minister she should take the referendum off the table altogether. | Responding to Sturgeon's speech in the Holyrood parliament, Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson told the First Minister she should take the referendum off the table altogether. |
| Sturgeon and her party had warned Prime Minister Theresa May that following the divisive Brexit vote, where 62 percent of Scotland opted to remain in the European Union, she would be seeking permission to call a second independence referendum. The overall result saw 52 percent of Brits choosing Brexit. | Sturgeon and her party had warned Prime Minister Theresa May that following the divisive Brexit vote, where 62 percent of Scotland opted to remain in the European Union, she would be seeking permission to call a second independence referendum. The overall result saw 52 percent of Brits choosing Brexit. |
| Reports at the weekend suggested that Sturgeon would set aside her plans for independence so she can focus on pushing for a ‘soft Brexit.’ | Reports at the weekend suggested that Sturgeon would set aside her plans for independence so she can focus on pushing for a ‘soft Brexit.’ |
| While her original timetable published in March saw a new vote on Scottish independence taking place between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, she is said to have been “reflecting” on the plan following the snap election of June 8. | While her original timetable published in March saw a new vote on Scottish independence taking place between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, she is said to have been “reflecting” on the plan following the snap election of June 8. |
| Much like May’s Conservative Party, the SNP lost a chunk of its seats in the House of Commons. The losses were particularly felt by the party’s Westminster group, which lost leader Angus Robertson and 21 other MPs. | Much like May’s Conservative Party, the SNP lost a chunk of its seats in the House of Commons. The losses were particularly felt by the party’s Westminster group, which lost leader Angus Robertson and 21 other MPs. |
| The Scottish Greens have urged the SNP leader not to back down on her bid to have a second referendum. | The Scottish Greens have urged the SNP leader not to back down on her bid to have a second referendum. |
| “Following the 2017 General Election, it is clear that some are making the case that the relative fortunes of the political parties in Scotland give a basis for claiming that the right of people in Scotland to decide their constitutional future has been ‘rejected,’” Greens co-conveners Maggie Chapman and Patrick Harvie said in a letter to the first minister. | “Following the 2017 General Election, it is clear that some are making the case that the relative fortunes of the political parties in Scotland give a basis for claiming that the right of people in Scotland to decide their constitutional future has been ‘rejected,’” Greens co-conveners Maggie Chapman and Patrick Harvie said in a letter to the first minister. |
| “We cannot accept this and we urge you not to.” | “We cannot accept this and we urge you not to.” |