Nicola Sturgeon expresses optimism that another independence
referendum is highly likely with the next 18 to 24 months after her meeting
with the British Prime Minister Theresa May.
Theresa May has welcomed the UK as an "unstoppable
force" without limits while Nicola Sturgeon continues to pressure her for
a second Scottish independence vote by spring 2019.
The Scottish Parliament in Holyrood is expected on Tuesday
(today) to back Ms Sturgeon's call for a new referendum, and on the other hand
on Wednesday Mrs May will trigger Article 50 to begin the formal process for
leaving the EU.
The PM while addressing staff at the Department for
International Development that Brexit did not mean "Britain steps back
from the world".
"UK Aid is a badge of hope for so many around the
world," she said at the East Kilbride base.
"And it says this: That when this great union of
nations, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, sets its mind on
something and works together with determination, we are an unstoppable force.
"That is why the plan for Britain I have set out... has
as its heart one over-arching goal: To build a more united nation.
"Because I believe when we work together, there is no
limit to what we can do."
Mrs May later met the First Minister at a Glasgow hotel, after
turning down the offer to have it in a nearby Scottish government building.
Ms Sturgeon described the talks as "reasonably
cordial" and "business-like" however, she said the PM had not
offered any concessions or guarantees to try to stave off another vote.
"I had been under the impression, given weekend media
reports, that we may be about to get some kind of offer around powers for the
Scottish government, but nothing of that nature emerged," said Ms
Sturgeon.
"No real guarantee that powers in currently devolved
areas wouldn't be centralised and no real willingness to discuss powers beyond
that."
She also insisted her hope for another vote in 18 months to
two years' time was realistic because the PM had told her the terms of a Brexit
deal should be clear by then.
Ms Sturgeon told Sky: "She's very clear that she thinks
the terms of Brexit, both the exit terms and the details of the future
relationship - the future trading agreement between the UK and the EU - the
detail of that will be clear before the UK exits.
"When I put it to her that would be in 18 months to two
years' time she said 'yes' that was her expectation.
"That is the timescale in which I have said the people
of Scotland should have the ability to make an informed choice about their
future."
Mrs May, however, has said she is sticking to her belief
that such a time frame would be "unfair" on people in Scotland
because not all the facts about a Brexit deal would be known.
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