- Nicola Sturgeon says she believes a second referendum on Scottish independence is "highly likely" after the UK overall voted to leave the EU, The Guardian reports.
The first minister said her government had already started the process of preparing legislation at Holyrood to pave the way for a second vote before the UK formally quits the EU in about two years’ time.
Speaking in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said she was deeply disappointed by the result of the UK referendum but said it had exposed a clear divide between Scottish and English voters, after Scotland voted heavily in favor of remaining.
She said that divide met her government’s central test before holding a second vote on independence of "a material change" in Scotland’s position within the UK, The Guardian says.
"It is a significant material change in circumstances. It’s a statement of the obvious that the option of a second independence referendum must be on the table and it is on the table," she said.
She disclosed the Scottish government would seek urgent talks with the European commission and other European member states to make clear Scotland wanted to remain within the EU – a clear hint she is hoping the EU will back the country’s continued membership before the UK formally leaves.
Sturgeon said the Scottish parliament "must have the option to hold a referendum. I can therefore confirm today, in order to protect that position, we’re beginning now to prepare the legislation that would be required to enable a new independence referendum to take place."
She added that it was "democratically unacceptable" that Scotland would be taken out of the EU against its will after the UK as a whole voted to back the leave campaign.
Scotland voted to remain in the European Union by 62% to 38%. The UK as a whole voted to leave by 52% to 48%.
