Nicola Sturgeon has called for the Scottish parliament to be given permanent powers to hold subsequent referendums on independence from the UK. Launching the document at an event at her official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh, Sturgeon said she “fully expected to get a flat no” from Westminster initially. Describing the Tory strategy as “self-defeating”, Sturgeon insisted that continued refusal to allow the Scottish people their right to choose would only boost support for independence. On Thursday afternoon, a separate bill setting out how referendums in Scotland will be run was voted through its final stage at Holyrood. The Electoral Commission confirmed on Monday that the bill had accepted its recommendation of a minimum 10-week campaign period.

Source: The Guardian December 19, 2019 10:48 UTC