Scotland has ‘democratic mandate’ for new independence referendum, Sturgeon says on Brexit Day

Scotland’s first minister has warned that there are “no shortcuts” to independence as she urged her party to build the political case for indyref2.

In a speech in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon stressed that she still wants an independence referendum this year.

But she acknowledged that it now may not happen until after next year’s Scottish Parliament election.

And she again insisted that any referendum “must be legal and legitimate”.

Ms Sturgeon was addressing SNP activists at an event in Edinburgh just hours before the UK leaves the EU at 23:00, despite Scottish voters backing Remain by 62% to 38% in the EU referendum.

The first minister said that Brexit day was a “pivotal moment” for Scotland and the UK, with the “real and profound sadness” felt by many Scots also tinged with anger.

And she said her party’s task now was to “persuade a majority of people on Scotland to back independence”.

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