Ignoring Scotland mandate for vote would shatter UK: Sturgeon

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warns that a continued refusal by Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss staging a new independence vote would "shatter" the United Kingdom.

According to reports, the first minister, who is set to address a conference of her Scottish National Party (SNP) later on Saturday, will increase pressure on May to compromise on staging a second independence vote from the UK, according to extracts from her speech.

“To stand in defiance of (Scottish parliamentary authorization) would be for the Prime Minister to shatter beyond repair any notion of the UK as a respectful partnership of equals," she will tell her Scottish National Party conference.

Sturgeon will also be letting it be known that she would be "up for continued discussion" with May regarding the timing of a referendum. She expects to get authorization from the parliament on Wednesday to seek a new vote.

A new vote on independence from the UK, needs to be signed off by London to be legally binding. The premier has so far refused to grant her the powers needed to stage a legally constituted referendum.

Sturgeon on Monday demanded a new referendum by early 2019 at the latest, just before the UK is expected to leave the European Union. May however said “now is not the time” for another referendum, because all energies should be devoted to getting a good Brexit deal for the UK as a whole.

The Scottish parliament is also expected to back Sturgeon’s calls for staging a referendum next week. "The will of our parliament must and will prevail," Sturgeon will say.

SS