Sturgeon launches new Scottish independence drive

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the time has come for the country to launch a “new conversation” on independence in the wake of the Brexit vote.

According to Press TV, Sturgeon made the remarks in a speech in the central Scottish city of Stirling on Friday, saying she would trigger the "biggest ever political listening exercise" to convince voters a second referendum was needed.

“We want to understand in detail how people feel now about Europe, Brexit and independence. We want to know the concerns that people have and the questions they want answered. We want to build, if we can, a consensus on the way ahead,” Sturgeon said.

The Scottish first minister said every poll taken since Britain’s Leave vote had shown an escalation of support for independence in comparison with the 2014 referendum, when voters backed staying in the UK by 55 percent to 45.

"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 noted.

"The UK that Scotland voted to stay part of has changed and so too have the arguments for and against independence," Sturgeon added.

After the UK’s decision to leave the European Union (EU), Sturgeon warned that a second independence referendum was "highly likely" and she has tasked the Scottish government with presenting legislation to allow for another ballot.

She insisted that it would be against Scotland’s national interest to be forced out of the EU when its voters chose to stay.

ME