Sturgeon launches drive for second Scottish independence referendum

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has launched a major new survey on independence, arguing that the Brexit vote had change the conditions that existed when Scotland voted against secession two years ago.

Giving a speech in Stirling – the town where William Wallace won a historic battle against the English – Sturgeon pledged to trigger the “biggest ever political listening exercise” to convince Scottish citizens a second referendum is needed.

This would include a new website to gauge public opinion, a series of town hall meetings, and a “growth commission” to figure out how Scotland can remain financially viable as an independent country.

“I believe it is right that our party does now lead a new conversation on independence. It will be a new debate, it will not be a re-run of 2014,” she said. “I suspect support for independence will be even higher if it becomes clear it is the best or only way to protect our interests.”

She lambasted the UK government’s failure to prepare for a “Leave” victory in June’s Brexit referendum as “reckless and irresponsible” and warned that the result would badly damage the Scottish economy.

“I am not prepared to stand by and watch that happen without a battle,” she said, adding that she would seek extra powers from London for Scotland to preserve its current EU ties to help universities and businesses.

The UK voted to leave the European Union by 52% to 48% last June, but in Scotland the result was 62% to 38% in favour of remaining in the EU. Within hours of the result, Sturgeon said that a new independence was “highly likely”, although formal consent would need to be gained the UK’s national parliament to hold a fresh vote.