FM sets out 'democratic case' for independence

1. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon publishes a paper titled "Renewing Democracy through Independence"
2. This is the second document in the Scottish government’s "Building a New Scotland" series making the case for independence
3. Ms Sturgeon tells the media she will not compromise on the principle of an indyref2 but she will sit down with the new PM to discuss the process for a vote
4. In a statement made from Bute House in Edinburgh she believes that pledges of more devolution would "not solve the democrat deficit" which Scotland faces by remaining in the union
5. Ms Sturgeon wants to hold a referendum on 19 October 2023, but Boris Johnson has rejected that call
6. Last week the prime minister announced his intention to step down from the post. Mr Johnson will leave when the Conservative Party elects a new leader who will also become PM

Independence paper: Key points

• Nicola Sturgeon claims Scotland faces a "stark" democratic deficit as she sets out her latest paper Renewing Democracy Through Independence
• The first minister wants to hold a referendum in October 2023, but says the UK government is denying democracy by seeking to block this
• Ms Sturgeon says whoever replaces Boris Johnson will have no democratic endorsement from Scotland

• The FM argues that only independence can fix the democratic deficit, with a change in prime minister likely to shift the UK further away from mainstream values in Scotland
• She argues that independence is the only way to "strengthen and embed" democracy in Scotland
• None of the candidates to replace Boris Johnson have given any indication they would back a vote - and Ms Sturgeon says she believes none of them will be chosen as PM by Scots
• Ms Sturgeon tells the media she will not compromise on the principle of an indyref2, but she will sit down with the new PM to discuss the process for a vote

That's all from us here on the live page team. Have a good afternoon.

Sturgeon is keen to hammer this message home right now

Philip Sim

BBC Scotland political correspondent

This was really another “scene setter” paper from Nicola Sturgeon, similar to the last one she launched at Bute House.

It underlines a key plank of her argument for independence – that Scots are not getting the governments they vote for at Westminster.

The first minister is particularly keen to hammer this message home right now, in the midst of the Tory leadership contest – which she described as “deeply undemocratic”.

She said Scots would not choose any of the candidates to be prime minister, and that this underlined the case for a referendum.

There is nothing in the latest paper in the way of more detailed policy proposals about what the Scottish government would seek to do with the powers of independence.

That is still to come in further papers, which will seek to tackle the big questions about currency, borders, pensions and EU membership.

Ms Sturgeon said another document might be published towards the end of Holyrood’s summer recess.

'I will be open to sitting down and seeking an agreement'

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Keiran Jenkins from Channel 4 asks if Nicola Sturgeon will welcome the new prime minister with an open mind and if she is willing to compromise on her plans for a referendum.

The first minister says when a Section 30 order was agreed with David Cameron, there was a negotiation.

Ms Sturgeon explains she has been part of a process where compromise has actually been at it's heart.

"So in principle yes in terms of the detail I will be open to a negotiation and in any negotiation you have to be willing to compromise," says the first minister.

"What I will not compromise on is the principle of the people of Scotland getting the opportunity to cast their votes and make their views known on independence."

Ms Sturgeon insists the best option is to have two governments coming together to agree the process.

"If the new prime minister is open to that, I will be open to sitting down, and in a spirit of compromise, seeking to come to an agreement.

"I'm not going to allow Scottish democracy to be the prisoner of a UK prime minister."

A referendum is the 'correct appropriate, legitimate route'

Euan Petrie of STV asks: "If it comes to a de-facto referendum at the Westminster general election, how can you guarantee a 50% share of the vote would lead to independence?"

Nicola Sturgeon says: "Whether you support or oppose independence, there should be an acceptance that [a referendum] is the correct appropriate, legitimate route. But others are seeking to block that route.

"What do I do if Westminster continues to refuse to accept democratic decisions of the Scottish people?

"There must come a point where I'm not the one expected to answer these questions. These are questions that have to be pinned on those refusing to accept democracy."

'Scotland wouldn't elect any of the Tory candidates'

BBC

BBC Scotland's Katie Hunter asks: "Perhaps it's silly of me to ask who you would like to become the next Prime Minister, but from your point of view who is the least worst option."

Nicola Sturgeon replies: "They all look pretty bad to me."

She says Scotland wouldn't elect any of them as Prime Minister, based on voting patterns over a long period of time.

She adds: "Even across the UK, hardly anyone is getting to vote at all who succeeds Boris Johnson. This is a deeply undemocratic process.

"None of them seem to have anything to offer Scotland except democracy denial."

'People in a democracy have a right to change their minds'

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BBC Scotland's Glenn Campbell asks the First Minister: "Is it fair for your opponents to question your commitment to democracy when you do not accept the outcome of the 2014 referendum or indeed the 2016 Brexit vote?"

Nicola Sturgeon says: "The outcome of the 2014 referendum was accepted, the evidence of that is Scotland is not independent.

"And the outcome of the Brexit vote in Scotland was that Scotland wanted to remain in the EU - that has not been honoured by UK parties and government because Scotland is out of the EU."

Ms Sturgeon adds says the 2014 referendum "has been honoured and respected" but adds that "people in a democracy have a right to change their minds, and to change their minds particularly when circumstances change."

'Either way Scotland will have the choice'

The first minister says: "The Lord Advocate has referred to the Supreme Court the question of whether Scottish Parliament legislation providing for an independence referendum without a Section 30 order relates to a reserved matter."

Ms Sturgeon hopes the court's decision will pave the way for the path to a referendum on 19 October 2023.

"If a referendum is blocked by Westminster, we will put the choice to the people of Scotland in the general election," she says.

"Either way Scotland will have the choice. And not only will democracy prevail, it will become the foundation stone on which we build a better nation."

'Ultimate power is retained by Westminster'

Today's paper sets out where Scotland stands democratically, explains the first minister.

Ms Sturgeon says not once in her entire lifetime have the Tories won a majority and "that is not democracy".

The first minister argues that this paper makes the case that the "democratic deficit cannot be fixed within a system founded on Westminster sovereignty".

Key Westminster decisions are having a profound and damaging impact in Scotland and there are no constitutional safeguards offering protection, she says.

Ms Sturgeon points out that: "Since 2016 Westminster has legislated against the express wishes of Holyrood, not once or even twice, but on no fewer than seven occasions."

She says: "Ultimate power is retained by Westminster."

BBC

'Scotland needs the real alternative that independence offers'

The first minister says: "What Scotland is hearing and seeing from Westminster parties encapsulates the democratic deficit that we face as part of the UK."

Ms Sturgeon says the democratic right to choose an alternative is being denied to Scotland.

She adds: "Scotland needs the real and the permanent alternative that only independence offers."

The first minister insists independence is about the bread and butter issues facing Scotland.

'Where the Tories go Labour seems obliged to follow'

PA Media

Ms Sturgeon says we may be just a few days into the Tory leadership contest, but it's already crystal clear that the issues Scotland is focused on will be hindered not helped by whoever becomes the next prime minister.

All people in Scotland hear from the UK government is "democracy denial", says the first minister.

"The fact that the Scottish people have repeatedly elected a majority in the Scottish Parliament committed to an independence referendum is treated as immaterial."

"Where the Tories go Labour seems obliged to follow," she says.

The first minister argues Labour is becoming a pale imitation of the Tories rather than an alternative.

PM has 'no democratic endorsement from Scotland'

Reuters

Nicola Sturgeon says the prime minister has no democratic endorsement whatsoever from Scotland and Boris Johnson will be replaced by another PM that Scotland has not voted for.

The first minister says the change of Tory leader seems certain to be accompanied by a shift even further to the right.

That's a shift from the mainstream and Scottish values, she adds.

'Scotland's democratic deficit has real consequences'

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Ms Sturgeon says today's paper exposes the "increasing democratic deficit Scotland suffers as part of the union".

This deficit has real consequences for individuals and families, says the first minister who adds, "only independence can strengthen and embed democracy in Scotland".

This will provide a foundation to overcome challenges facing the country and the reaching of our potential, she says.

Ms Sturgeon says the evidence for a democratic deficit is arguably the starkest that it has ever been.

'Today's paper focuses on democracy'

The first minister begins by saying that today sees the launch of the second paper in the Building a New Scotland series.

Ms Sturgeon explains that in the months ahead she intends to cover currency, public finances and the economy and social security, pensions, defence and a range of other issues.

"Today's paper though focuses on democracy and democratic renewal."

Renewing Democracy Through Independence published

Nicola Sturgeon is preparing to launch her second paper making the case for independence.

Renewing Democracy Through Independence has just been published on the Scottish government website.

Nicola Sturgeon to set out 'democratic case' for independence

BBC

Ms Sturgeon unveiled her new route map to an independence referendum last month

Nicola Sturgeon will claim that Scotland faces a "starker than ever" democratic deficit as she launches the latest in a series of papers setting out the case for independence.

The first minister will say whoever replaces Boris Johnson will have no democratic endorsement from Scotland.

And she will argue that the country is being denied the democratic right to choose an alternative path.

Ms Sturgeon wants to hold a referendum on 19 October 2023.

Mr Johnson rejected her call last week, shortly before being forced to announce he would be standing down as prime minister once a successor is chosen.

• Read more here
• Where do Tory candidates stand on indyref2?
• Is there a mandate for an independence referendum?
• BBC iPlayer - Independence: Why Scotland Could Vote Again

Analysis

Philip Sim

BBC Scotland political correspondent

There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks about how an independence referendum might be held.

But Nicola Sturgeon is also keen to look at the “why” of independence, and that is the focus of the series of papers her government has started publishing.

These aim to set out answers to some of the difficult questions around issues like currency, borders and how the institutions of a new state could be set up.

Today’s paper is not expected to focus on such technical matters, however – partly because we are in the depths of Holyrood’s summer recess, and big policy plans are generally meant to be announced to MSPs.

Instead we are likely to hear a lot of talk of democracy, of mandates, and of how Scots can “get the government they vote for”.

The idea of a “democratic deficit” is a key pillar of the first minister’s argument for independence – and it is also a timely moment for her to make it, as the Conservative leadership race builds momentum.

The timing is no accident. Ms Sturgeon wants to make sure independence is part of the conversation as a new prime minister is chosen.

Welcome

PA Media

Ms Sturgeon has set out her plans to secure a legal referendum if the UK government does not give formal consent

Good morning and welcome to our live page coverage of the launch of the latest in a series of papers setting out the case for independence.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will make a statement at about 11am from Bute House in Edinburgh.