Nicola Sturgeon has launched her draft independence referendum bill, claiming it will “protect Scotland’s interests”.
The First Minister has proposed that Scots be asked the same question posed in 2014 if there was to be a rerun: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
Ms Sturgeon published the document, which would be used as the legal basis upon which the country could hold a rerun of its 2014 vote, on Thursday morning. The public are being asked to respond.
It also sets out plans for a second poll to be decided by a simple majority, as was the case two years ago when 55% of Scots voted to stay in the United Kingdom and 45% opted for independence.
The consultation proposes the same franchise as in 2014, which would see EU citizens living in Scotland and 16 and 17-year-olds able to vote.
It states that an order similar to that drawn up by Westminster and the Scottish Parliament that allowed the previous vote to take place “would be sought and agreed”.
And it matches a commitment in the SNP’s programme for government following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, although Westminster still holds legal authority over whether another plebiscite could actually be held.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson claimed it showed the Nationalists’ “sole objective is separation ahead of anything and everything else”.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has confirmed her MSPs would vote against the bill were it to be brought before Holyrood, with the Tories and Liberal Democrats expected to do the same,
The Scottish Greens, however, will back the minority SNP administration on the issue to create a majority and ensure its passing.
Ms Sturgeon said: “My priority is clear – we will do everything we can to protect Scotland’s interests.
“The damage to jobs and Scotland’s economy that will be caused by Brexit – especially a hard Brexit – is now plain to see.
“We will continue to work UK wide to seek to avert a hard Brexit and we will also bring forward proposals that seek to protect our place in the single market, even if the rest of the UK leaves.
“However, if we find that our interests cannot be properly or fully protected within a UK context then independence must be one of the options open to us and the Scottish people must have the right to consider it.
“Any decision on holding a referendum, including the timing of it, would be for the Scottish Parliament to take having considered all the options for Scotland’s future relationship with the EU and the associated impact of being forced to leave against our will.”
Prime Minister Theresa May’s official spokesman has said Ms Sturgeon should stick to her pledge that the 2014 referendum was a “once-in-a-generation” vote and urged her to respect Scots’ decision.
The First Minister maintains any return to the polls would be because circumstances have changed fundamentally since the last vote, not as a ploy to ignore the wishes of the 55% of people who voted No.
The draft bill proposes that any referendum would be run in a way similar to 2014, with technical adjustments to reflect recent changes in elections law and procedures such as individual registration.
Ms Sturgeon has been criticised by opposition politicians, who say any threat of a second referendum should be taken off the table while the UK negotiates its way out of the EU.
Ms Davidson pointed out that, during her programme for government, the First Minister made much of priorities ahead of independence.
She added: “The SNP even criticised other parties for making reference to the issue during the debate. Yet today we see that once again it is the SNP’s top priority.
“This is the first major bill Nicola Sturgeon has published after being re-elected as First Minister and shows that separation is her overriding concern.
Ms Davidson added: “No matter what else the SNP claims to be passionate about, be it education, health or justice, today’s publication exposes its sole objective is separation ahead of anything and everything else.”
And she was accused by Ms Dugdale of “irresponsible economic vandalism” by publishing the draft bill.
She said: “Our economy is in trouble following David Cameron’s reckless Brexit gamble, and the very last thing we need is more uncertainty for employers.
“This publication confirms that the SNP’s top priority is to divide our country. My message to the First Minister is this: we are divided enough – do not divide us again.
“Instead of seeking fresh divisions, the SNP should be prioritising our public services such as education and healthcare. This is a referendum that Scotland does not need or want.”
Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Greens, argued it would be “foolish” for the UK Government to block another constitutional vote.
He said: “Several months after the EU referendum, we’re still none the wiser as to what Brexit will look like or fully mean for the UK.
“The Westminster government’s inability to acknowledge the overwhelming mandate for Remain in Scotland, or demonstrate any kind of flexibility the union could take in the individual UK nations’ forging relations with Europe, shows that independence is quickly becoming the most realistic option for Scotland to shape its own partnership with the European Union.
“Evidently the referendum results in 2014 and 2016 can no longer sit side by side because the UK that Scotland narrowly voted to remain a part of two years ago no longer exists.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said: “Just two short years after we voted decisively to remain part of the United Kingdom, the SNP are dragging Scotland back to division over the constitution.
“School attainment has worsened, our police are in crisis, children have been forced to wait years for mental health treatment and roads are crumbling. Meanwhile, the First Minister had her civil servants dusting off her indyref rule book and working all hours to deliver this draft referendum bill.
“Scotland has not had a mental health strategy since the end of last year but the SNP managed to turn around a referendum bill in weeks. It is now crystal clear that the SNP’s priority is not education. It is not health, or even working to protect the benefits of our EU membership. It is independence.”
