Will Scotland bail? Over May's dead body.

Sturgeon outlines new Scottish independence referendum plans

Back in the day, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted remain.

Nicola Sturgeon is to introduce new legislation to stage a second Scottish independence referendum, claiming one must be held by May 2021 if Brexit goes ahead.

The first minister said Brexit would have such a catastrophic impact on Scotland’s economy and Westminster’s approach to it had been so chaotic that Scottish voters must have the option to choose independence.

In a long-awaited statement to the Scottish parliament on her plans, Sturgeon said the proposed legislation would set out how a new referendum would be held if Holyrood were granted the powers to stage one.

Theresa May’s official spokesman flatly rejected the idea the moment may be approaching for Scottish voters to be given a fresh vote on independence. 

“As we have been repeatedly clear, Scotland already had an independence referendum in 2014, and voted decisively to remain in the UK. This should be respected,” he said.

Sturgeon first announced she wanted new legislation for a second referendum in June 2016, immediately after the UK voted to leave the EU.

She said Westminster’s decision to press on with Brexit, despite an overwhelming remain vote in Scotland, was proof the current system of devolution was broken.

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Repeated opinion polls show a narrow majority of Scottish people are against independence, with only a minority backing a referendum in the next two years. 

Others show a majority of Scottish voters would support a referendum over the next decade.

Sturgeon appeared to acknowledge there was not yet a majority in favour of leaving the UK and said she wanted to build a consensus with opposition parties on Scotland’s constitutional and political future, in contrast to May’s insularity and intransigence on Brexit.