Today the Scottish Government has published the Referendums (Scotland) Bill to provide a legal framework for the holding of referendums "on any matters within Scotland’s control."
Power to hold a second independence referendum remains with the UK Government, however the SNP are pressing ahead with this legislation despite only a fifth of Scots supporting Nicola’s timetable of having a referendum within the next two years.
Nicola Sturgeon has recently been quoted as stating that she wants to hold a second independence referendum towards the end of next year (2020).
Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: “This is a reckless act by an irresponsible government. “With a constitutional crisis over Brexit, the very last thing the country and the economy needs is deeper division and greater uncertainty. “Nicola Sturgeon only cares about putting up barriers between people, but it’s time for her to become First Minister for everyone in Scotland and drop this unwanted plan. “Only a fifth of voters back her proposal to force a divisive second independence referendum on the country by 2021, and a third of former Yes voters now want to remain in the UK.