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| Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants a new independence referendum by 2021 (AFP Photo/ANDY BUCHANAN) |
London (AFP) - The Scottish government will introduce legislation "shortly" as a first step towards another independence referendum to be held by 2021, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Wednesday.
"We
will shortly introduce legislation to set the rules for any referendum,"
the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader told lawmakers in Edinburgh.
She said
she hoped the legislation would be agreed by the end of 2019.
Her
government aims to "give people a choice on independence" from the
United Kingdom before the end of the current term of parliament expires in May
2021.
Scotland
voted to remain in the United Kingdom during a 2014 referendum by a margin of
55 percent to 45 percent, but the country's vote to leave the European Union in
2016 spurred independence campaigners to demand another vote.
Shortly after
this, the Scottish government would then request a "section 30 order"
from the British government, which would involve a temporary transfer of power
from Westminster to the Edinburgh to allow the referendum to go ahead.
"We do
not need a transfer of power, such as a section 30 order, to pass such a
framework bill, although we would need it to put beyond doubt or challenge our
ability to apply the bill to an independence referendum," she said.
'Status
quo broken'
Some
pro-independence supporters have urged Sturgeon to call for an immediate vote,
but British Prime Minister Theresa May has already said she would not agree to
such a request.
"I
believe that position will prove to be unsustainable," said Sturgeon.
"By making
progress with primary legislation first, we won't squander valuable time now in
a stand-off with the UK government that may soon be out of office," she
explained of her timing.
The
Scottish government would instead seek a section 30 order "at an appropriate
point during or shortly after the bill's passage", she added.
Around six
in ten Scots voted to stay in the European Union, and Sturgeon hopes that some
of those who voted to stay in the United Kingdom might change their vote in
another referendum in order to maintain membership of the EU.
But the
uncertainty surrounding Brexit, which has been put back to October 31 as MPs
try and reach agreement over the divorce deal, has also hampered plans for
another independence referendum.
"To
rush into an immediate decision before a Brexit path is determined would not
allow for an informed choice to be made," said the SNP leader.
While polls
show some pro-EU voters have swung behind the independence cause, a similar
amount of pro-Brexit supporters have moved in the other direction, and overall
support remains close to 2014 levels.
Sturgeon
hopes that dissatisfaction with London's handling of Brexit could tip the
balance.
"The
Westminster system of government simply does not serve Scotland's
interests," she said.
"The
status quo is broken. Serious change is needed," added the first minister.
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