Sturgeon vows to protect Scotland’s interests in EU
Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland needs to keep “all options open” to protect the nation's place and interests in the European Union following the June 23 referendum to leave the bloc.
In a speech on Monday, Sturgeon said she would start preparatory work for a fresh independence bid, two years after the country voted against splitting from the rest of the United Kingdom.
“If we find that our interests can't be protected in a UK context, independence must be one of those options that Scotland must have the right to consider,” the first minister said.
“That's why we'll take the preparatory steps to ensure that it's an option open to the Scottish parliament if the Scottish parliament considers it necessary."
Britain voted 52-48 percent to leave the EU last month. Scotland, however, voted 62-38 percent to remain in the bloc.
“The UK that we voted to stay part of in 2014, a UK within the EU, is fundamentally changing. The outlook for the UK is uncertainty, upheaval and unpredictability,” Sturgeon said.
“In these circumstances it may well be that the option that offers us the greatest certainty, stability, and maximum control over our own destiny is that of independence,” she stressed.
Sturgeon also criticized “the absence of any of leadership” from the UK government and politicians who campaigned to leave the EU.
EU leaders have been urging the UK to start the exit process without delay, arguing that postponing the process was creating uncertainty and slowing economic growth.
The British economy has shrunk at its fastest rate since April 2009 -- the peak of the 2007-08 financial crisis – following the Brexit vote, according to a recent business survey.
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