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1st LD Writethru: Scottish gov't to publish second independence referendum bill for consultation next week

Xinhua, October 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Thursday that her government will publish next week for public consultation a bill of second referendum on Scotland's independence.

Sturgeon told the SNP conference in Glasgow that an Independence Referendum Bill would be published next week. A consultation exercise on the measure will start across Scotland within days.

In a message directed at the British government and British Prime Minister Theresa May, Sturgeon said in an opening speech: "If you think for one single second that I'm not serious about doing what it takes to protect Scotland's interests, then think again."

"If you can't -- or won't -- allow us to protect our interests within the UK, then Scotland will have the right to decide, afresh, if it wants to take a different path," she said.

On September 18, 2014, the people of Scotland voted to remain as part of Britain by a 55-45 percent margin.

It was said at the time that the question of Scottish independence had been settled for a generation or more, with no prospect of an early second public referendum. But within hours of the EU referendum vote being announced, Sturgeon said a second referendum for Scottish independence was highly likely.

In the June 23 referendum, people voted by 52 percent to 48 to leave the EU, but in Scotland the vote for remain was 62 percent, compared to the 38 percent wanting to leave.

The decision to leave the EU, reinforced by May's insistence that the "Brexit" result means all parts of Britain quitting Europe, has brought the Scottish independence question to the forefront of politics.

Sturgeon told delegates that Scotland had the right to seek something better if there were prospects of an unstable future as part of Britain.

Within minutes of the announcement, Sturgeon's plans were heavily criticised by the Labour Party in Scotland.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale accused Sturgeon and the SNP of breaking promises that the 2014 independence referendum result would stand for a "generation" and was a "once in a lifetime opportunity."

Dugdale said Scottish Labour will vote against any proposal for another referendum on Scottish independence. Endit