Nicola Sturgeon will seek a mandate from the Scottish Parliament to strengthen her hand in talks with European Union (EU) institutions to protect Scotland’s place in the EU.
In an emergency debate at Holyrood on Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon will call on MSPs to support her talks “for protecting Scotland’s relationship with the EU, Scotland’s place in the single market”.
Commenting ahead of the debate, the First Minister said: “I have already made it clear that I regard it as democratically unacceptable for Scotland to face the prospect of being taken out of the European Union against the wishes of the people of Scotland, as expressed overwhelmingly in last week’s referendum.
“I am now determined to explore every avenue to retain Scotland’s EU status and today’s parliamentary debate is a vital part of that process.
“I am specifically asking Parliament to strengthen my hand by giving me a mandate to pursue discussions about protecting Scotland’s place in the EU with the UK Government, other devolved administrations, EU institutions and member states.
“It is now crucial that our national Parliament speaks with as strong and united a voice as possible on this issue.
“Today’s debate is among the most important in Holyrood’s history – and I want to see it result in broad cross-party support for our efforts.”
Ms Sturgeon will ask Holyrood to welcome the overwhelming vote of the people of Scotland to remain in the European Union and affirm to EU citizens in Scotland that “they remain welcome and that their contribution is valued”.
She is seeking a mandate for discussions with the UK Government, other devolved administrations, the EU institutions and member states to explore options for protecting Scotland’s relationship with the EU, Scotland’s place in the single market and “the social, employment and economic benefits that come from that”.
It comes after a series of polls suggested Scotland is now in favour of independence.
A Survation poll of 1,002 adults for the Daily Record immediately after the Brexit vote found 53.7% saying they would vote for independence, against 46.3% in favour of staying in the UK.
Mr Johnson, who spearheaded the Leave campaign and is widely tipped to replace David Cameron as prime minister, declared “Project Fear is over” after Chancellor George Osborne said his proposed emergency Brexit budget is now unlikely to happen until the autumn.
Indeed, Boris. Project Farce has now begun – and you are largely responsible. #EUref https://t.co/1TExKvEvfT
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) June 27, 2016
In response, Scotland’s First Minister wrote on Twitter: “Indeed, Boris. Project Farce has now begun – and you are largely responsible.”
Two former Labour shadow Scottish secretaries have backed efforts to keep Scotland inside the EU.
Ian Murray, who resigned from Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet at the weekend, said “nothing is off the table” in Scottish Labour’s bid to protect Scotland’s EU membership – including support for another independence referendum.
Margaret Curran, who held Labour’s Scottish portfolio while the party was leading the Better Together campaign, said “the case for independence in 2018 could be stronger than in 2014” after the Brexit vote.
Mr Murray told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “We will support Nicola Sturgeon in everything that she wants to do to try and negotiate with the EU to protect Scotland’s position and protect Scottish jobs.”
He added: “Kezia Dugdale has made clear that our manifesto said that we would oppose a second independence referendum.
“We’re a party that believes in Scotland being both in the UK and in the EU, but she has said that nothing is off the table at the moment until we see where we are and what what will be.”
Writing in The Times, Ms Curran said: “Having campaigned against independence, it breaks my heart that we are here again.
“And we must be honest: the case for independence in 2018 could be stronger than in 2014.
“While I understand the politics is shifting, I am compelled to acknowledge the values that drove me to support staying in the European Union are those that drive me to support a continuing partnership across the UK.
“Scottish Labour must face square on the growing divergence between the politics of Scotland and the rest of Britain.”
Ms Curran said Ms Dugdale “must serve Scottish voters first” even if that “puts her at odds with other parts of the Labour movement”.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell accused Ms Sturgeon of “opportunism” to further the “independence agenda”.
He insisted the arguments for Scotland being part of the UK are “as compelling today as they were in 2014”.
But he sidestepped the question of whether Westminster would grant the powers for a second independence referendum to be held.
Mr Mundell told BBC Radio Scotland: “Could there be another referendum? Of course there could, that’s a process issue.
“Should there be another referendum? That’s a quite different issue, and my view is that there should not be another independence referendum.”
Asked whether Westminster would stand in the way of the First Minister holding such a referendum, or whether it would grant the Section 30 order to pave the way for such a ballot, he said: “What I’m going to do is argue that there shouldn’t be another independence referendum.”
Responding to the Record poll, SNP business convener Derek MacKay said:
“This poll is a strong endorsement of the actions of the First Minister and shows that when faced with the choice between being taken out of the EU against our will by a right-wing Tory government, or continuing as outward-looking, independent members of the European Union, more and more people are open to the possibilities independence brings.”
