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Scotland’s first minister announces timeframe for new independence referendum

Sturgeon announced that next week she would require the Scottish Parliament to issue permission for a second referendum

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Jane Barlow/PA via AP

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

© Jane Barlow/PA via AP

LONDON, March 13. /TASS/. The new referendum on Scotland’s independence should be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National party, said on Monday.

Sturgeon added that next week she would require the Scottish Parliament to issue permission for a second referendum.

✍️ If you agree Scotland should have a choice on the kind of country we are going to be, sign the pledge: https://t.co/9mK4v8U3ot #ScotRef pic.twitter.com/7XveMkRNh0
— The SNP (@theSNP) 13 March 2017

"Not only is there no UK-wide agreement on the way ahead but the UK government has not moved even an inch in pursuit of agreement," Sturgeon said. "If Scotland can be ignored on an issue as important as our membership of the EU and single market... then our voice can be ignored at any time and on any issue," she added. According to Sturgeon, "the UK Government is becoming ever more assertive in its intention to muscle in on the powers we already have. The language of partnership has gone, completely."

At the same time, Scotland’s first minister said she was ready for further discussions if the UK government changed its position and showed willingness to reach a compromise.

The first referendum on Scotland’s independence was held in September 2014 when as many as 55% of the voters rejected independence. According to the recent opinion polls, the majority of Scots still oppose independence. However, Scotland, that voted against Brexit at the 2016 referendum, wants to keep its access to Europe’s single market creating contradictions between London and Brussels.

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