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Nicola Sturgeon has suggested the Scottish Government could hold a second referendum on independence without securing the permission of the UK Government.
The First Minister today renewed her push to hold a rerun of the 2014 vote as she said the Scottish parliament has an “indisputable democratic mandate” to do so.
The UK Government would have to grant permission for a vote to take place by issuing a so-called section 30 order and Ms Sturgeon said she “stands ready” to discuss the terms of such an order with Boris Johnson “at any time”.
However, Mr Johnson has repeatedly resisted calls for a second referendum, arguing 2014 was supposed to settle the matter for a generation.
Ms Sturgeon said any referendum must be held in a “lawful manner” and the Scottish Government is looking at how it could proceed without a section 30 order.
She told a press conference in Edinburgh: “That means if we are to uphold democracy here in Scotland we must forge a way forward, if necessary, without a section 30 order.”
She said that “work is well underway” and she will deliver a “significant update to parliament very soon indeed”.
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