Despite Prime Minister Theresa May saying that now was “not the time” for another independence referendum, Scotland’s parliament will vote today to give its government a mandate to seek a new independence referendum.
The ruling Scottish National Party holds 48 percent of seats in the parliament so unless supported by the opposition parties Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat, would not win the vote. However, if the SNP find support from the Scottish Green party it should allow the motion to pass.
“As a result of the Brexit vote we know that change is now inevitable – the question is what kind of change is right for Scotland and whether that change is made for us or by us,” said Sturgeon, who has argued that Scotland’s vote to stay in the EU has been ignored in May’s Brexit arrangements so far.
Opposition parties in Scotland argue that Sturgeon is using Brexit as an excuse to bring up the issue of independence again after Scotland rejected the motion in 2014.
The full motion on a second referendum is as follows:
“That the parliament acknowledges the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs and therefore mandates the Scottish government to take forward discussions with the UK government on the details of an order under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 to ensure that the Scottish parliament can legislate for a referendum to be held that will give the people of Scotland a choice over the future direction and governance of their country at a time, and with a question and franchise, determined by the Scottish parliament, which would most appropriately be between the autumn of 2018, when there is clarity over the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, and around the point at which the UK leaves the EU in spring 2019.”