Scottish leader to seek independence vote in 2 years

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - The Scottish regional government will seek a second referendum on independence to be held by the spring of 2019, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Monday.

In a widely anticipated development, Sturgeon said she would ask the Scottish parliament next week for permission to request a Section 30 order from the U.K. government in Westminster.

Speaking at her residence in Edinburgh, Sturgeon demanded a choice between a “hard Brexit” that would sever all ties with the EU and independence for Scotland, which voted to remain part of the EU in last June’s U.K.-wide referendum while the country as a whole opted to leave.

Scotland had worked “really hard” to find an agreement on Britain leaving the EU but had been confounded by Prime Minister Theresa May’s government, Sturgeon said.

“It is time to set out plans decisively,” she added.

The U.K. government had not “moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement” since the Brexit vote, Sturgeon said in televised comments.

A Section 30 order would be needed to allow the Scottish parliament to set the stage for a fresh referendum but May is yet to say if she would grant permission.

Legislation to allow May to trigger Article 50, which would begin negotiations to take Britain out of the EU, is due to complete its final stages later Monday.

A September 2014 referendum on independence saw Scots vote in favour of remaining in the U.K.