Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Nicola Sturgeon says a second independence referendum will be called between autumn 2018 and spring 2019

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed she will ask for permission to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence.

Ms Sturgeon said she wanted a vote to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of the following year.

That would coincide with the expected conclusion of the UK's Brexit negotiations.

The Scottish first minister said the move was needed to protect Scottish interests in the wake of the UK voting to leave the EU.

She will ask the Scottish Parliament next Tuesday to request a Section 30 order from Westminster.

The order would be needed to allow a fresh legally-binding referendum on independence to be held.

Prime Minister Theresa May has so far avoided saying whether or not she would grant permission.

Responding to Ms Sturgeon's announcement, Mrs May said a second independence referendum would set Scotland on course for "uncertainty and division" and insisted that the majority of people in Scotland did not want another vote on the issue.

She added: "The tunnel vision that SNP has shown today is deeply regrettable.

"Instead of playing politics with the future of our country, the Scottish government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people of Scotland. Politics is not a game."

But speaking at her official Bute House residence in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said the people of Scotland must be offered a choice between a "hard Brexit" and becoming an independent country.

The Scottish government has published proposals which it says would allow Scotland to remain a member of the European single market even if the rest of the UK leaves, which Mrs May has said it will.

Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland's political editor

Image copyright PA Image caption Scottish voters rejected independence by 55% to 45% in the referendum in September 2014

Several questions now arise? Does Nicola Sturgeon have a mandate for today's decision? She says yes, unquestionably. In defence of this, she says that the SNP won the last Holyrood election with a record share of the constituency vote.

Against that, rivals say the SNP did not retain their overall majority at Holyrood. Countering that again, it might be noted that there is a majority at Holyrood for independence, including the Greens. As will be demonstrated next week when those two parties vote together to urge a Section 30 transfer from Westminster.

Which brings us to Question Two. Section 30 refers to the portion of the 1998 Scotland Act, the Holyrood founding statute, which permits the transfer of other powers from the reserved section to the devolved criterion.

It has been used, for example, to transfer control over issues like rail transport to Holyrood. It was used, most significantly, to transfer power to hold the 2014 referendum, with agreement over the wording of questions and the timing of the plebiscite.

Will the UK government agree to a transfer this time around? Not without detailed examination and negotiation.

Read more from Brian here.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Theresa May says she has been "working closely" with the devolved administrations on Brexit

The first minister said the UK government had not "moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement" since the Brexit referendum, which saw Scotland vote by 62% to 38% in favour of Remain while the UK as a whole voted to leave by 52% to 48%.

On Monday evening, the House of Lords passed the Brexit bill, paving the way for the government to trigger Article 50 so the UK can leave the EU.

Peers backed down over the issues of EU residency rights and a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal after their objections were overturned by MPs.

Ms Sturgeon said Scotland stood at a "hugely important crossroads", and insisted she would continue to attempt to reach a compromise with the UK government.

But she added: "I will take the steps necessary now to make sure that Scotland will have a choice at the end of this process.

"A choice of whether to follow the UK to a hard Brexit, or to become an independent country able to secure a real partnership of equals with the rest of the UK and our own relationship with Europe."

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May both attended a Service of Commemoration in London last week

Ms Sturgeon continued: "The Scottish government's mandate for offering this choice is beyond doubt.

"So next week I will seek the approval of the Scottish Parliament to open discussions with the UK government on the details of a Section 30 order - the procedure that will enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum."

Ms Sturgeon said it was "important that Scotland is able to exercise the right to choose our own future at a time when the options are clearer than they are now, but before it is too late to decide on our own path."

She said that the detailed arrangements for a referendum - including its timing - should be for the Scottish Parliament to decide.

But she said it was important to be "frank about the challenges we face and clear about the opportunities independence will give us to secure our relationship with Europe, build a stronger and more sustainable economy and create a fairer society."

Analysis by Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor

The UK and Holyrood governments are set for a battle royale over timing over a potential vote.

But the question first is whether or not the prime minster is willing to grant a vote. Under the law, Westminster has to grant the referendum; it's not just down to the Scottish government.

I'm told Number 10 had carefully worked out "countermoves" depending on what the first minister's message was this week.

Now Sturgeon has made the first big move, it's down to the other side to respond.

But arguably we have just entered into the most complicated, most fraught, most fundamental period of political uncertainty for our country in a very long time.

Sturgeon's announcement confirms that it is not just our place in the EU that is changing, but the relationships between our own nations that are at question too.

Read more from Laura

Ms Sturgeon will rely on the pro-independence Scottish Greens to give her plans majority support in the Scottish Parliament.

Patrick Harvie, the party's co-convener, welcomed the announcement and confirmed the Greens would vote in favour of seeking a Section 30 order.

He added: "The people of Scotland deserve a choice between Hard Brexit Britain and putting our own future in our own hands".

But Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said Ms Sturgeon had been "utterly irresponsible" and had "given up acting as first minister for all of Scotland".

She added people "do not want to go back to the division" of a referendum and that Ms Sturgeon had promised 2014 would be a "once in a generation" poll.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The SNP and Scottish Greens form a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said Scotland was "already divided enough" and "we do not want to be divided again, but that is exactly what another independence referendum would do."

'Democratic decision'

But the party's UK leader, Jeremy Corbyn, confirmed that his MPs would not attempt to block a request for a Section 30 order.

Mr Corbyn said: "Labour believes it would be wrong to hold another (referendum) so soon and Scottish Labour will oppose it in the Scottish Parliament.

"If, however, the Scottish Parliament votes for one, Labour will not block that democratic decision at Westminster.

"If there is another referendum, Labour will oppose independence because it is not in the interests of any part of the country to break up the UK."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Ms Sturgeon's SNP had been "working towards this announcement for months" and were "determined to contrive a way to ignore their promise that 2014 was 'once in a generation'."

He added that there was "no wide public support for a new and divisive referendum".</s>Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she plans to trigger another independence referendum.

Ms Sturgeon said the vote could be held in autumn 2018 at the earliest.

During a speech at Bute House, Ms Sturgeon said: “We face a future, not just outside the European Union, but also outside the world’s biggest single market.

“The UK Government is becoming ever more assertive... the language of partnership has gone.

“The Prime Minister and her government have been given every opportunity to compromise.

“I cannot pretend to the Scottish people that a compromise agreement looks likely.

“I will take the steps necessary to make sure Scotland has a choice.

“What Scotland deserves... in light of Brexit, is the chance to choose our future. The option of ‘no change’ is no longer available.”

The First Minister suggested that a second vote on Scotland’s constitutional future ‘could happen between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019’.”

Ms Sturgeon has previously hinted that autumn 2018 would be a suitable time to call a referendum.

Since the UK vote to leave the European Union, Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly said a second independence referendum is “highly likely”.

Scots voted 62% to 38% to remain the EU while the UK as a whole voted to leave.

Ms Sturgeon said: “The timing of the Brexit negotiations are not within the control of the Scottish Government. However, we must plan on the basis of what we do know now and what we know is that on the timetable set out by the Prime Minister, the shape of the Brexit deal will become clear in the autumn of next year ahead of ratification votes by other EU countries.

“That is therefore the earliest point at which a referendum would be appropriate.”

Ms Sturgeon had called for Scotland to be given a “differentiated deal” which would see the country remain part of the European single market through membership of the European Economic Area, but said the UK Government has refused to compromise.

She said Theresa May and the UK Government had been given “every opportunity” to compromise but had “not moved even an inch”.

The First Minister said appeals have been met with a “brick wall of intransigence”.

Patrick Harvie MSP, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, welcomed confirmation from the First Minister that she is seeking a Section 30 Order.

Patrick, who sits on Holyrood’s Finance & Constitution Committee, said:

“The Greens welcome the Scottish Parliament’s consent being sought for a Section 30 order on an independence referendum and we will support it. Scotland’s votes and our voice have been ignored by a Tory government at Westminster which we did not vote for and a feeble Labour opposition. The people of Scotland deserve a choice between Hard Brexit Britain and putting our own future in our own hands.

“Theresa May’s isolationist Brexit will cause huge damage to Scotland’s economy and public services, to our health service, schools and universities. It will isolate us from the world. Those who care about fairness in society are horrified by the kind of Brexit Britain tax-haven the Tories are planning. The Greens will campaign for a progressive, internationalist, independent Scotland.”

The UK Government has said a second Scottish independence referendum would cause “huge economic uncertainty”, but has not ruled out granting permission for one to take place.

Responding to Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement that she would seek the power to hold a second referendum between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, Downing Street described any new poll before Brexit is concluded as taking place “at the worst possible time”.

The UK Government must grant a Section 30 order under the terms of the Scotland Act, which would need to be agreed by parliamentarians at Westminster.

A government spokesman said: “As the Prime Minister has set out, the UK Government seeks a future partnership with the EU that works for the whole of the United Kingdom.

“The UK Government will negotiate that agreement, but we will do so taking into account the interests of all of the nations of the UK.

“We have been working closely with all the devolved administrations - listening to their proposals, and recognising the many areas of common ground, including workers’ rights, the status of EU citizens living in the UK and our security from crime and terrorism.

“Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish Government defined as a ‘once in a generation’ vote.

“The evidence clearly shows that a majority of people in Scotland do not want a second independence referendum. Another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time.

“The Scottish Government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people in Scotland.”</s>Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she plans to trigger another independence referendum.

Ms Sturgeon said the vote could be held in autumn 2018 at the earliest.

Speaking at Bute House in Edinburgh she said: "In my view it is important that Scotland is able to exercise the right to choose our own future at a time when the options are clearer than they are now, but before it is too late to decide our own path."

Since the UK vote to leave the European Union, Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly said a second independence referendum is "highly likely".

Scots voted 62% to 38% to remain the EU while the UK as a whole voted to leave.

Ms Sturgeon said: "The timing of the Brexit negotiations are not within the control of the Scottish Government.

"However, we must plan on the basis of what we do know now and what we know is that on the timetable set out by the Prime Minister, the shape of the Brexit deal will become clear in the autumn of next year ahead of ratification votes by other EU countries.

"That is therefore the earliest point at which a referendum would be appropriate.</s>NICOLA STURGEON has announced a second referendum on Scottish independence.

She made the announcement during a speech at Bute House, while MPs in Westminster are preparing to give Theresa May the power to trigger Article 50 and begin the UK’s divorce from the EU.

It comes after the SNP struggled to find friends in Spain during a trip to garner support for Scotland gaining exclusive access to the EU single market last week.

In her speech Sturgeon said the UK Government had ‘not moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement’ with the Scottish Government over Brexit and that even a good deal would be ‘significantly inferior’ to the current system.

“If Scotland can be ignored on an issue as important as the EU and the single market then it is clear that our voice can be ignored at any time and on any issue,” she said.

Scotland’s first minister said the new referendum must be held between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019, when the terms of Brexit will be known.

She confirmed that she will apply for authorisation from the UK Government for the vote but added that they should respect the will of the Scottish Parliament.

“The option of no change is no longer available. But we will give the Scottish people a choice about the kind of change we want,” she said.

“I believe that it would be wrong for Scotland to be taken down a path that it has no control over regardless of the consequences for our economy, for our society, for our place in the world, for our very sense of who we are as a country. That would be wrong, and therefore my judgement is that we should have that choice.

 “I believe that in a referendum the Scottish people will opt for independence, but that will be the choice of the Scottish people and I’ve been very clear that that will be an informed choice.”

Scotland voted to stay in the EU by 62%.

The SNP promised a second vote in their manifesto if they were taken out of the EU ‘against our will’.</s>The latest fallout from Britain's vote to leave the European Union is the looming possibility of Scottish independence, NBC News reported.

Scotland's leader said Monday she is seeking a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom as early as next year, following a failed attempt to withdraw in 2014.

But that was before Britain voted for "Brexit," triggering complicated negotiations over its exit from the trading bloc. Scotland was against Brexit, however, and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she has encountered a "brick wall of intransigence" in dealing with the British government over the terms for withdrawal.

Sturgeon said she will seek the constitutional authority to hold a new referendum by early 2019. U.K. Prime Minster Theresa May replied that Sturgeon's Scottish National Party showed "regrettable" tunnel vision in seeking the vote.</s>Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon says she will ask for permission to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence.

The BBC reports Sturgeon says the timing of another vote will be the Scottish Parliament to decide, with Sturgeon’s preferred timing for the referendum to be between autumn in 2018 and spring 2019.

She plans to ask the Scottish Parliament next week for permission to request a section 30 order from Westminster, which would grant the power for a legally binding referendum.

Speaking in Edinburgh today, Sturgeon says Scotland is at a “hugely important crossroads”.

She says: “I will take the steps necessary now to make sure that Scotland will have a choice at the end of this process.

“A choice of whether to follow the UK to a hard Brexit, or to become an independent country able to secure a real partnership of equals with the rest of the UK and our own relationship with Europe.”

Sturgeon adds: “The Scottish government’s mandate for offering this choice is beyond doubt.

“So next week I will seek the approval of the Scottish Parliament to open discussions with the UK government on the details of a Section 30 order – the procedure that will enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.”

In the EU referendum last year, Scotland voted 62 per cent in favour of remaining in the EU. In its original vote on independence in 2014, 55 per cent of Scottish voters opted against independence.</s>"Next week I will seek the authority of the Scottish parliament to agree with the UK government… the procedure that will enable the Scottish parliament to legislate for an independence referendum," she said.

Nicola Sturgeon noted that she would take steps to ensure that the region has a choice on whether to remain a part of the United Kingdom or become independent amid Brexit.

"I will now take the steps necessary to make sure that Scotland will have a choice at the end of this process. A choice of whether to follow the UK to a hard Brexit — or to become an independent country, able to secure a real partnership of equals with the rest of the UK and our own relationship with Europe," Sturgeon said, as quoted by the Scottish National Party.

Choice on Scotland independence must be offered between next autumn and spring 2019, she added.

" I can confirm today that next week I will seek the authority of the Scottish Parliament to agree with the UK government the details of a section 30 order — the procedure that will enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum … These considerations lead me to the conclusion that if Scotland is to have a real choice — when the terms of Brexit are known, but before it is too late to choose our own course — then that choice should be offered between the autumn of next year, 2018, and the spring of 2019," she said, as quoted by the SNP website.

Nicola Sturgeon also said she was not turning her back on further discussions with the UK government on the issue of Brexit if it were to agree to compromise, but said she did not believe that a compromise agreement was likely.

"The prime minister and her government have been given every opportunity to compromise but today as we stand for all we know on the eve of Article 50 being triggered 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 compromise and agreement … Even at this late stage I am not turning my back on further discussions should the UK government change its mind and decide it is willing to agree to our compromise proposals … I cannot pretend to the Scottish people that the compromise agreement looks remotely likely," Sturgeon said speaking to reporters.

"I want the UK to get a good deal from the EU negotiations, this is clearly in Scotland’s interests as well as in the interests of our friends in other parts of the UK. But I am far from alone in fearing a bad deal or indeed no deal, nor am I alone in fearing that even a so-called good deal will be significantly inferior to the membership of the single market," Sturgeon said speaking to reporters.

Earlier it was reported, that a total of 50 percent of Scots would vote for independence if a new referendum took place in Scotland, according to the Ipsos MORI survey. Since the last poll, conducted six months ago, support for independence has increased by two percentage points.

The majority of Scots, 62 percent against 38 percent, voted to stay in the European Union at the 2016 nationwide referendum, however, the United Kingdom overall voted to leave. The Scottish National Party (SNP) has repeatedly called for a repeat independence referendum in the wake of the decision, citing fears of a "hard Brexit" strategy and lost access to the EU single market.

On March 9, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that the second half of 2018 would be a "common sense" time for holding a second Scottish independence referendum, as a UK-EU deal would be more clear by then.

The UK government views a second Scottish independence referendum as inevitable but will fight to delay the vote, local media reported on March 10.</s>Nicola Sturgeon caught Westminster off-guard on Monday (13 March) by calling for a second Scottish independence referendum. The first minister of Scotland was expected to make the move at the SNP's spring conference in Glasgow, which starts on Friday (17 March).

But with the Article 50 bill set to pass through parliament on Monday evening and Theresa May expected to trigger EU divorce talks on Tuesday, Sturgeon called the media to her official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh.

"I can confirm today that next week I will seek the authority of the Scottish Parliament to agree with the UK government the details of a Section 20 Order, the procedure that will enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for a second Scottish interdependence referendum," she said.

"The UK government was clear in 2014 that an independence referendum should, in their words, be made in Scotland by the people of Scotland. That is a principle that should be respected today. The detailed arrangements of a referendum, including its timing, must be for the Scottish Parliament to decide."

Sturgeon added: "If Scotland is to have a real choice, when the terms of Brexit are known but before it is too late to choose our own course, then that choice must be offered between the Autumn of next year 2018 and the spring of 2019."

The comments come after an Ipsos MORI poll for STV News, of more than 1,000 respondents between 24 February and 6 March, found that Scottish people likely to vote were split 50/50 on the independence issue. Scots voted 55% against splitting from the rest of the UK in 2014.

But 62% of Scottish voters backed a Remain vote at the EU referendum in June, when the UK voted 52% to 48% to split from the economic and political bloc.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale warned that Scotland was "already divided enough". "We do not want to be divided again, but that is exactly what another independence referendum would do," she said.

"Two years ago 85% of Scotland's voters took part in the independence referendum and the result was a clear vote to remain in the UK.

"With our country facing all of the uncertainty around Brexit, the last thing we need is even more uncertainty and division."

However, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn caused controversy over the weekend by describing a second independence referendum as "absolutely fine".

"Well, if a referendum is held then it is absolutely fine, it should be held," he told the Press Assocation. "I don't think it's the job of Westminster or the Labour Party to prevent people holding referenda.

"I do think we should set it within the context of the economic relationship with the rest of the UK and the question of devolution of EU powers to English regions and to Scotland and to parts of Scotland rather than just to the government in Holyrood, because of the principle of regionalism is it goes to everybody within a region, not just to the central powers and the SNP have a bit of a tendency to centralise everything around themselves."

"As the prime minister has set out, the UK government seeks a future partnership with the EU that works for the whole of the United Kingdom. The UK government will negotiate that agreement, but we will do so taking into account the interests of all of the nations of the UK. "We have been working closely with all the devolved administrations - listening to their proposals, and recognising the many areas of common ground, including workers' rights, the status of EU citizens living in the UK and our security from crime and terrorism. "Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish Government defined as a 'once in a generation' vote. "The evidence clearly shows that a majority of people in Scotland do not want a second independence referendum. Another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time. "The Scottish Government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people in Scotland."</s>Nicola Sturgeon has called for a second independence referendum to take place within two years.

The First Minister said Scotland was at a "crossroads" as the UK Government prepared to trigger Article 50.

The earliest time for a vote would be the autumn of 2018, and the latest in the spring of 2019, she said.

She said she would seek for a Section 30 order which would transfer power for the vote to the Scottish Parliament.

The First Minister indicated there was little chance of a compromise with the UK Government on the issue of Scotland having a special deal to stay in the European single market.

Theresa May could begin the formal process of leaving the EU as early as Tuesday, following a vote at Westminster.

The UK Government has said that "another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty."

Speaking at Bute House, First Minister said: "Scotland stands at a hugely important crossroads.

"On the eve of Article 50 being triggered, not only is there no UK wide agreement on the way ahead - the UK Government has not moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement.

"All of our efforts at compromise have been met with a brick wall of intransigence.

"UK membership of the single market was ruled out with no prior consultation with the Scottish Government or with the other devolved administrations, leaving us facing not just Brexit, but a hard Brexit.

"And far from any prospect of significant new powers for the Scottish Parliament, 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."

She added: "The Scottish Government's mandate for offering this choice is beyond doubt. So next week I will seek the approval of the Scottish Parliament to open discussions with the UK Government on the details of a Section 30 order - the procedure that will enable the Scottish Parliament to legislate for an independence referendum.

"The UK Government was clear in 2014 that an independence referendum should be, in their words, 'made in Scotland, by the people of Scotland' - that is a principle that should be respected today.

"The detailed arrangements for a referendum - including its timing - should be for the Scottish Parliament to decide."

She stressed there should be "clarity" about the implications of independence.

She continued: "If I ruled out a referendum, I would be deciding - completely unilaterally - that Scotland will follow the UK to a hard Brexit come-what-may, no matter how damaging to our economy and our society it turns out to be."

Immediately following the Brexit vote last June, the First Minister said a second independence referendum was "highly likely."

Scots voted 62% to 38% to remain the EU while the UK as a whole voted to leave.

In the independence referendum in 2014, the vote was 55% to 45% in favour of staying in the UK.

The Scottish Parliament does not hold the power to organise an independence referendum and must gain permission from the UK Government to hold one through a legal instrument called a section 30 order.

The UK Government and several Scottish opposition parties have said there should not be a second vote on the issue.

A UK Government spokesman said: "As the Prime Minister has set out, the UK Government seeks a future partnership with the EU that works for the whole of the United Kingdom. The UK Government will negotiate that agreement, but we will do so taking into account the interests of all of the nations of the UK.

"We have been working closely with all the devolved administrations - listening to their proposals, and recognising the many areas of common ground, including workers' rights, the status of EU citizens living in the UK and our security from crime and terrorism.

"Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish Government defined as a 'once in a generation' vote.

"The evidence clearly shows that a majority of people in Scotland do not want a second independence referendum. Another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time.

"The Scottish Government should focus on delivering good government and public services for the people in Scotland."

Responding to the First Minister's speech, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said "Scotland is already divided enough."

She said: "We do not want to be divided again, but that is exactly what another independence referendum would do.

"Two years ago, 85 per cent of Scotland's voters took part in the independence referendum and the result was a clear vote to remain in the UK.

"With our country facing all of the uncertainty around the Tories' reckless plans for a hard Brexit, the last thing we need is even more uncertainty and division.

"A clear majority of the people of Scotland voted to reject the SNP's false hope and lies, and backed working together with the other nations of the UK.

"The reality is that leaving the UK would mean turbo-charged austerity for Scotland, putting the future of our schools and hospitals at risk."

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said her party would oppose the move for a Section 30 order in the Scottish Parliament.

She tweeted: "Nicola Sturgeon has today chosen the path of further division and uncertainty."

Last week a poll for STV News found Scots certain to vote in another independence referendum were split 50/50 on the issue.

A poll published in the Herald newspaper on Monday suggested the split was 52% in favour of staying in the UK and 48% for leaving.

The BMG research found 56% were against the idea of holding an independence vote before the Brexit negotiations are finished.

Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are.</s>The First Minister announced on Monday that she wants to give the Scottish people a decision about its own future. The former Ukip leader criticised Ms Sturgeon for not wanting independence but instead wanted to join the Eurozone, which he predicted would be rejected by Scottish voters. Speaking on Sky News, he said: “If Nicola Sturgeon was honest and wanted to leave the EU and to leave the UK and to have an independent Scotland I would respect that position. “I wouldn’t agree with it, but I would respect that position.

“She doesn’t she wants to sign up lock stock and barrel to Brussels, she wants to sign a treaty, that will commit Scotland to joining the Euro. “I think when the Scottish people actually look at this in the cold light of day, it will be massively rejected.” The Euro is the official currency of 19 EU countries of the 28 member states, however the currency has been in trouble since the end of 2009, with both Spain and Greece struggling with large government debts. The Scottish First Minister criticised Theresa May’s Brexit approach which will see Britain leave the single market.

Speaking during her referendum announcement, she said: “Our plan to protect Scotland’s interests. Right now Scotland stands at a hugely important crossroads. “We did not choose to be in this position and I wish that we were not in this position but we are and the stakes are high. We must have a plan for the way forward.” The 52-year-old MEP blasted Ms Sturgeon for her proposed independence referendum, which he suggested was based on dishonesty. He said: “The United Kingdom voted for independence. Independence from the European Union, so we could make our own laws and control our borders.

“What Nicola Sturgeon wants to do is to give away independence. This is not an independence referendum. “The Scottish people need to be told the truth, and that is that wool is being pulled over their eyes. “The SNP do not want independence. They want to be signed up to the European project. They want to be signed up to the United States of Europe. “I think once the Scottish people realise that if there were to be a second referendum the majority would be far bigger this time than it was back in 2014.”
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces she will seek a second referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.