Summary

  • MSPs continue to debate 'Scotland's Choice' before parliament votes on whether to seek a second independence at decision time

  • Nicola Sturgeon's call for a second referendum on independence for Scotland has been formally backed by the Scottish Parliament

  • MSPs voted by 69 to 59 in favour of seeking permission for a referendum before the UK leaves the EU

  • Ms Sturgeon says the move is needed to allow Scotland to decide what path to follow in the wake of the Brexit vote

  • The UK government has already said it will block a referendum until the Brexit process has been completed

  1. Postpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

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  2. 'It is only right the people of Scotland are given the choice to choose their future' published at 15:27 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    SNP MSP Sandra White says Brexit has changed everything and insists the SNP manifesto said a second independence referendum could be held if there was a substantial material change like leaving the EU.

    Ms White says: "It is only right the people of Scotland are given the choice to choose their future."

    She says the unionist language in this debate is "disgusting" and a terrible example to young people. 

    Sandra WhiteImage source, bbc
  3. Postpublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

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  4. Indyref2: Your questions answeredpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    
          Scotland voted to stay in the UK by 55% to 45% in the 2014 independence referendum
        Image source, bbc
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    Scotland voted to stay in the UK by 55% to 45% in the 2014 independence referendum

    What would the question be?

    This would also be the subject of intense negotiation, should we get that far. The   draft referendum bill   put out for consultation in 2016 was based on a question matching that approved by the Electoral Commission in 2014: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

    The UK government might argue for a Remain/Leave style question, like that of the EU referendum.

    Again, Ms Sturgeon wants Holyrood to have the final say, but she acknowledges that the Electoral Commission could intervene.

  5. Scotland does not want another referendum, says Labour's James Kelly published at 15:19 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    James Kelly

    Labour's James Kelly recalls the Edinburgh Agreement signed in October 2012 by the SNP's then leader and Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond. This was an agreement that both sides said they would honour, Mr Kelly says.

    He insists that the latest word from Mr Salmond is that that no longer matters. The MSP goes on to say that the people of Scotland do not want another referendum.

  6. 'Choice is between independence in Europe or a Tory Brexit'published at 15:18 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    SNP MSP Ben Macpherson says today's debate is about all the people of Scotland.

    Mr Macpherson says: "The people of Scotland face an important choice between independence in Europe or a Tory Brexit."

    He says terms like nationalist and unionist should be avoided as Brexit was motivated, at least in part, by British nationalism.

    Mr Macpherson instead calls for the substance of the choice before the people of Scotland

    Ben MacphersonImage source, bbc
  7. Indyref2: Your questions answeredpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    So when might a referendum be held?

    Ms Sturgeon outlined a window towards the end of the Brexit process in which she wants the vote to take place, between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019.

    The first minister wants the picture of the final Brexit deal to become clear, so that she can offer Scottish voters an "informed choice" before the UK leaves the EU.

    Saltire ballot boxImage source, Thinkstock

    But her timetable has now been rejected by the UK government, who don't believe the picture of Brexit will be clear until well after the UK is out of the EU - effectively, they say Brexit needs time to 'bed in'.

    Does this mean there could be a referendum later, in 2019 or 2020? Mr Mundell has refused to speculate about possible dates.

    The two governments are at something of an impasse over this - but Ms Sturgeon wants to push ahead with the Holyrood side of the process in the meantime, arguing the Scottish Parliament   should have the final say  .

  8. 'There is no majority support for this proposal in Scotland'published at 15:05 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    Tory MSP Oliver Mundell says: "There is no majority support for this proposal in Scotland."

    Mr Mundell says: "I am not sure if Nicola Sturgeon believes the people of Scotland are daft."

    He says the problem for this first minister is the people of Scotland have already spoken and ruled out independence for a generation.

    The Tory MSP says: "The truth is that after a decade in power, it is Nicola Sturgeon that thinks she can dictate terms, not just to the UK government, but to the people of Scotland."

    Oliver MundellImage source, bbc
  9. Postpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

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  10. 'There is a fog of confusion and there is no certainty Scotland's voice will be heard' published at 15:00 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    SNP MSP Kate Forbes begins by paying respect to those who were affected by the Westminster terror attack.

    Ms Forbes says all MSPs have a vision for Scotland.

    The SNP MSP says change is inevitable and there is a "fog of confusion and there is no certainty Scotland's voice will be heard".

    She says Scotland's future should be, now and always, in the hands of the people of Scotland.

    Kate ForbesImage source, bbc
  11. Postpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

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  12. Indyref2: Your questions answeredpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    What is a Section 30 order?

    The power to call a referendum is reserved to Westminster.   Section 30 of the 1998 Scotland Act, external   is the mechanism by which Holyrood can legislate on reserved areas.

    For the 2014 vote, David Cameron and Alex Salmond, the then-leaders of the UK and Scottish governments,   signed the Edinburgh Agreement   to give Holyrood the power to call the referendum.

    
          David Cameron and Alex Salmond, the then-leaders of the UK and Scottish governments, sign the Edinburgh Agreement
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    David Cameron and Alex Salmond, the then-leaders of the UK and Scottish governments, sign the Edinburgh Agreement

    Nicola Sturgeon - also a signatory of the Edinburgh Agreement, as deputy first minister - wants to get a similar deal from the current PM, Mrs May.

    Her first step will be to ask MSPs for their backing over this. The Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems have all indicated they will vote against Ms Sturgeon's proposals, but crucially the Greens will back her. If all voting MSPs turn up, that will give the first minister a majority of 69 to 59.

  13. 'The best years of the United Kingdom could lie ahead of it'published at 14:57 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    Mr Cole-Hamilton says there is great capacity for compassion from the British people as seen by the response to the Westminster attack last week.

    He says he came to Holyrood to make a difference, but nearly a year on, despite a crisis in education and health, he has yet to vote on a bill to address these issues.

    The Lib Dem MSP says he will vote against the government motion as he is convinced "the best years of the United Kingdom could lie ahead of it".

  14. Postpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

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  15. Postpublished at 14:55 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

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  16. Lib Dem MSP says successive opinion polls have shown the people of Scotland don't want indyref2 published at 14:53 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says he dried up last Wednesday in the debate, as news of the Westminster terror attack came through on twitter and he worried about friends and colleagues.

    Mr Cole-Hamilton says the Brexit decision broke his heart but that does not make him wish to break up the UK.

    SNP MSP Tom Arthur intervenes to ask if it will take the Lib Dems 100 years to attain their goal of re-entry for the UK to the EU.

    The Lib Dem MSP says he has been fighting for lost causes all of his life and he will fight for the UK's re-entry into the EU.

    He says successive opinion polls have shown the people of Scotland don't want indyref2.

    Alex Cole-HamiltonImage source, bbc
  17. Scottish Lib Dem amendmentpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    Scottish Lib Dem amendmentImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Scottish Lib Dem amendment

  18. Greens have no difficulty in supporting the government's motion published at 14:50 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    Mr Wightman says the Greens will vote according to their longstanding principles at decision time.

    The Green MSP says his party have no difficulty in supporting the government's motion.

  19. Wightman says Scotland faces being dragged out of the single market with no electoral mandate published at 14:49 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    Mr Wightman says he also believes in a more democratic EU and wants reconstitution of the EU.

    Labour MSP James Kelly says it is "pretty radical" to lose a referendum by more than 10% and ignore that result.

    The Green MSP says the results of the EU referendum and the 2014 independence referendum are not compatible.

    He says nine months on from the EU referendum, Scotland faces a hard Brexit and faces being dragged out of the single market with no electoral mandate.

  20. Scottish Greens have "longstanding support for an autonomous Scotland" published at 14:46 British Summer Time 28 March 2017

    Scottish Green Party MSP Andy Wightman concedes not everyone wants indyref2.

    Mr Wightman also accepts the people rejected independence in 2014.

    He says he intends to debate on this issue with respect, tolerance and empathy.

    The Green MSP says, as part of the commitment to radical democracy, his party has shown longstanding support for an autonomous Scotland.

    Andy WightmanImage source, bbc