In a big blow for Scottish nationalists, the United Kingdom's top court ruled that the Scottish government cannot hold a second referendum on independence next year without approval from the British parliament. Watch this report to know more.

UK's top court rejects Scottish independence referendum bid

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For an ordinary politician, heading into midterm elections on an unsavory plume of scandal over cellphone contacts with billionaires and a suspiciously funded apartment makeover might seem like the recipe for a thumping. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain is not an ordinary politician.

As voters in the country go to the polls Thursday for regional and local elections that have been swollen by races postponed from last year because of the pandemic, Johnson’s Conservative Party stands to make gains against a Labour Party that has struggled to make the ethical accusations against him stick.

Far from humbling a wayward prime minister, the elections could extend a realignment in British politics that began in 2019 when the Conservative Party won a landslide general election victory. That would put the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, on the back foot and ratify Johnson’s status as a kind of political unicorn.

“No politician in the democratic West can escape the consequences of political gravity forever, but Boris Johnson has shown a greater capacity to do it than most,” said Tony Travers, a professor of politics at the London School of Economics. “People see his behavior as evidence of his authenticity.”

Yet there is peril as well as promise for Johnson in the elections, which will decide thousands of seats, including that of London’s mayor, and which the British press has perhaps inevitably nicknamed “Super Thursday.”

In Scotland, the Scottish National Party could win a clear majority in Scotland’s Parliament that the nationalists would brandish as a powerful mandate to demand another referendum on independence from the United Kingdom after an earlier one was defeated in 2014.

In the English elections, the big prize is Hartlepool, a struggling northern port city and Labour bastion where a new poll suggests that the Conservatives could win a bellwether seat in a parliamentary by-election. The Tories could make further inroads in other Labour cities and towns in the industrial Midlands and North, where they picked off dozens of seats in 2019, running on Johnson’s promise to “Get Brexit Done.”

The prime minister did get Brexit done, as of January. Yet while the split with the European Union brought predicted chaos in shipments of British seafood and higher customs fees on European goods, its effects have been eclipsed by the pandemic — a twist that ended up working to the government’s benefit.

Although the pandemic began as a negative story for Johnson, with a dilatory response to the first wave of infections that left Britain with the highest death toll in Europe, it turned around with the nation’s rapid rollout of vaccines.

As new cases, hospitalisations and deaths have plunged, voters have rediscovered their affection for Johnson. His poll numbers rebounded from their lows last fall and show little damage from the charges and countercharges about his conduct, even though those have riveted London’s political circles.

More important, Johnson’s message of “leveling up” the economically blighted Midlands and North with the more prosperous south still seems to resonate with people, including many who traditionally voted for Labour. And the government’s free-spending response to the pandemic has pulled the Conservative Party even further from its roots as the party of fiscal austerity.

“The party of Margaret Thatcher is becoming the party of a big state and higher taxes, which can quite easily become the party of economic nationalism and ‘Buy British,’” said Travers, the London School of Economics professor.

For Starmer, the Labour leader, this shape shifting has been confounding. A disciplined former prosecutor who lacks Johnson’s raffish manner, he has found it difficult to attack the government on its pandemic response, particularly the vaccine rollout, which is the largest peacetime mobilisation in British history.

Instead, Starmer has grilled Johnson in Parliament weekly about who picked up the initial bill for the upgrade of his apartment and why he was texting the billionaire James Dyson about the tax status of his employees, when the two were discussing a plan for Dyson’s company to manufacture ventilators.

But there is little evidence that voters are particularly surprised or concerned that Johnson does not play by the rules. As political commentators have taken to saying this week, the prime minister’s behaviour is “priced in.”

The same is not true of Scottish independence. Analysts say Johnson’s government is not prepared for the wall of pressure it will face if the Scottish National Party wins a majority. The last time the party achieved that, in 2011, Britain’s then-prime minister, David Cameron, yielded to demands for a referendum. In 2014, Scots voted against leaving Britain by 55% to 44%.

Polls now put the split at roughly 50-50, after a stretch in which the pro-independence vote was solidly above 50%. Analysts attribute the slight softening of support to both the vaccine rollout, which showed the merits of staying in the union, as well as an ugly political dispute within Scottish nationalist ranks.

Johnson holds a trump card of sorts. To be legally binding, an independence referendum would almost certainly have to gain the assent of the British government, so the prime minister can simply say no and hope the problem goes away. But that strategy can work for only so long before becoming untenable.

“I don’t see any way in the world that Boris Johnson turns around the day after the election and says, ‘OK, you can have a referendum,’” said Nicola McEwen, a professor of politics at the University of Edinburgh.

And yet the calls could only grow. “If they manage to peel off a single-party majority,” she said, “it does put pressure on the UK&nbsp;to answer the question, ‘If a democratic vote isn’t a mandate for independence, then what is?’”
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For an ordinary politician, heading into midterm elections on an unsavory plume of scandal over cellphone contacts with billionaires and a suspiciously funded apartment makeover might seem like the recipe for a thumping.

For an ordinary politician, heading into midterm elections on an unsavory plume of scandal over cellphone contacts with billionaires and a suspiciously funded apartment makeover might seem like the recipe for a thumping. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain is not an ordinary politician. As voters in the country go to the polls Thursday for regional and local elections that have been swollen by races postponed from last year because of the pandemic, Johnson’s Conservative Party stands to make gains against a Labour Party that has struggled to make the ethical accusations against him stick. Far from humbling a wayward prime minister, the elections could extend a realignment in British politics that began in 2019 when the Conservative Party won a landslide general election victory. That would put the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, on the back foot and ratify Johnson’s status as a kind of political unicorn. “No politician in the democratic West can escape the consequences of political gravity forever, but Boris Johnson has shown a greater capacity to do it than most,” said Tony Travers, a professor of politics at the London School of Economics. “People see his behavior as evidence of his authenticity.” Yet there is peril as well as promise for Johnson in the elections, which will decide thousands of seats, including that of London’s mayor, and which the British press has perhaps inevitably nicknamed “Super Thursday.” In Scotland, the Scottish National Party could win a clear majority in Scotland’s Parliament that the nationalists would brandish as a powerful mandate to demand another referendum on independence from the United Kingdom after an earlier one was defeated in 2014. In the English elections, the big prize is Hartlepool, a struggling northern port city and Labour bastion where a new poll suggests that the Conservatives could win a bellwether seat in a parliamentary by-election. The Tories could make further inroads in other Labour cities and towns in the industrial Midlands and North, where they picked off dozens of seats in 2019, running on Johnson’s promise to “Get Brexit Done.” The prime minister did get Brexit done, as of January. Yet while the split with the European Union brought predicted chaos in shipments of British seafood and higher customs fees on European goods, its effects have been eclipsed by the pandemic — a twist that ended up working to the government’s benefit. Although the pandemic began as a negative story for Johnson, with a dilatory response to the first wave of infections that left Britain with the highest death toll in Europe, it turned around with the nation’s rapid rollout of vaccines. As new cases, hospitalisations and deaths have plunged, voters have rediscovered their affection for Johnson. His poll numbers rebounded from their lows last fall and show little damage from the charges and countercharges about his conduct, even though those have riveted London’s political circles. More important, Johnson’s message of “leveling up” the economically blighted Midlands and North with the more prosperous south still seems to resonate with people, including many who traditionally voted for Labour. And the government’s free-spending response to the pandemic has pulled the Conservative Party even further from its roots as the party of fiscal austerity. “The party of Margaret Thatcher is becoming the party of a big state and higher taxes, which can quite easily become the party of economic nationalism and ‘Buy British,’” said Travers, the London School of Economics professor. For Starmer, the Labour leader, this shape shifting has been confounding. A disciplined former prosecutor who lacks Johnson’s raffish manner, he has found it difficult to attack the government on its pandemic response, particularly the vaccine rollout, which is the largest peacetime mobilisation in British history. Instead, Starmer has grilled Johnson in Parliament weekly about who picked up the initial bill for the upgrade of his apartment and why he was texting the billionaire James Dyson about the tax status of his employees, when the two were discussing a plan for Dyson’s company to manufacture ventilators. But there is little evidence that voters are particularly surprised or concerned that Johnson does not play by the rules. As political commentators have taken to saying this week, the prime minister’s behaviour is “priced in.” The same is not true of Scottish independence. Analysts say Johnson’s government is not prepared for the wall of pressure it will face if the Scottish National Party wins a majority. The last time the party achieved that, in 2011, Britain’s then-prime minister, David Cameron, yielded to demands for a referendum. In 2014, Scots voted against leaving Britain by 55% to 44%. Polls now put the split at roughly 50-50, after a stretch in which the pro-independence vote was solidly above 50%. Analysts attribute the slight softening of support to both the vaccine rollout, which showed the merits of staying in the union, as well as an ugly political dispute within Scottish nationalist ranks. Johnson holds a trump card of sorts. To be legally binding, an independence referendum would almost certainly have to gain the assent of the British government, so the prime minister can simply say no and hope the problem goes away. But that strategy can work for only so long before becoming untenable. “I don’t see any way in the world that Boris Johnson turns around the day after the election and says, ‘OK, you can have a referendum,’” said Nicola McEwen, a professor of politics at the University of Edinburgh. And yet the calls could only grow. “If they manage to peel off a single-party majority,” she said, “it does put pressure on the UK to answer the question, ‘If a democratic vote isn’t a mandate for independence, then what is?’”

UK vote is likely to back Johnson, and an independent Scotland

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads to Scotland on Thursday in a bid to stem growing support for another independence referendum by arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the benefits of staying together.

The bonds that tie England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland together in a $3 trillion economy have been severely strained by both Brexit and Johnson's handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Opinion surveys show that a majority of Scots would now back independence, though Johnson has repeatedly said that now is not the time for another referendum that could break apart the more than 314-year-old union between England and Scotland.

Ahead of his visit, which was criticised by Scottish nationalists, Johnson said that Scotland as a part of the United Kingdom gained access to a coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the shots are being administered by the shared armed forces, who are creating 80 new vaccine centres in Scotland.

"We have pulled together to defeat the virus," Johnson said. "Mutual cooperation across the UK throughout this pandemic is exactly what the people of Scotland expect and it is what I have been focussed on."

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised Johnson’s trip, questioning whether his reasons for visiting are "really essential" and arguing it sets a bad example to the public.

Sturgeon, who runs Scotland's semi-autonomous government, is hoping a strong performance by her Scottish National Party in an election for the country's devolved parliament in May would give her the mandate to hold a second referendum.

If Scotland voted for independence it would mean the United Kingdom would lose about a third of its landmass and almost a tenth of its population - just as the world's sixth-biggest economy is grappling with the impact of Brexit.

Johnson, who would have to agree to a new referendum, has said there is no need for a new vote after independence was rejected by Scottish voters in 2014.

Scotland voted against independence by 55 per cent&nbsp;to 45&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in a 2014 referendum. But a majority of Scots also backed staying in the European Union in the subsequent 2016 Brexit vote, stoking demands by Scottish nationalists for a new independence vote after the UK as a whole voted to leave.

Scottish nationalist attempts to force a change to the United Kingdom's constitution are a massive distraction while the government battles COVID-19, British Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove said.

"At the moment, when we are prioritising the fight against the disease and also the need for economic recovery in due course, talking about changing the constitution and so on is just a massive distraction," Gove told Sky News.

Gove said that Johnson, who had made himself minister for the union, was the best frontman for the keeping the United Kingdom together.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads to Scotland on Thursday in a bid to stem growing support for another independence referendum by arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the benefits of staying together.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson heads to Scotland on Thursday in a bid to stem growing support for another independence referendum by arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the benefits of staying together. The bonds that tie England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland together in a $3 trillion economy have been severely strained by both Brexit and Johnson's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Opinion surveys show that a majority of Scots would now back independence, though Johnson has repeatedly said that now is not the time for another referendum that could break apart the more than 314-year-old union between England and Scotland. Ahead of his visit, which was criticised by Scottish nationalists, Johnson said that Scotland as a part of the United Kingdom gained access to a coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the shots are being administered by the shared armed forces, who are creating 80 new vaccine centres in Scotland. "We have pulled together to defeat the virus," Johnson said. "Mutual cooperation across the UK throughout this pandemic is exactly what the people of Scotland expect and it is what I have been focussed on." Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon criticised Johnson’s trip, questioning whether his reasons for visiting are "really essential" and arguing it sets a bad example to the public. Sturgeon, who runs Scotland's semi-autonomous government, is hoping a strong performance by her Scottish National Party in an election for the country's devolved parliament in May would give her the mandate to hold a second referendum. If Scotland voted for independence it would mean the United Kingdom would lose about a third of its landmass and almost a tenth of its population - just as the world's sixth-biggest economy is grappling with the impact of Brexit. Johnson, who would have to agree to a new referendum, has said there is no need for a new vote after independence was rejected by Scottish voters in 2014. Scotland voted against independence by 55 per cent to 45 per cent in a 2014 referendum. But a majority of Scots also backed staying in the European Union in the subsequent 2016 Brexit vote, stoking demands by Scottish nationalists for a new independence vote after the UK as a whole voted to leave. Scottish nationalist attempts to force a change to the United Kingdom's constitution are a massive distraction while the government battles COVID-19, British Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove said. "At the moment, when we are prioritising the fight against the disease and also the need for economic recovery in due course, talking about changing the constitution and so on is just a massive distraction," Gove told Sky News. Gove said that Johnson, who had made himself minister for the union, was the best frontman for the keeping the United Kingdom together.

British PM Johnson heads to Scotland to argue against the breakup of UK

British Prime Minister Theresa May will press her case on Monday for a strong union in Scotland, using a visit to staff working on international aid to say &quot;there is no limit to what we can do&quot; when Britain works together.

May is battling to keep the United Kingdom together after Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union revealed deep divisions, with England and Wales voting for Brexit, while Scotland and Northern Ireland supported staying in the bloc.

Just days before the British leader launches the formal divorce procedure with the EU, May wants to try to stem demands in Scotland for a new independence referendum by promising to get a Brexit deal that will suit all parts of the country.

Due to visit staff from the Department for International Development in East Kilbride in southern Scotland before meeting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, May will also say Britain will not turn its back on the world as it negotiates Brexit.

&quot;Indeed, we are going to take this opportunity to forge a more global Britain. The closest friend and ally with Europe, but also a country that looks beyond Europe to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike,&quot; she will say, according to excerpts of a speech released by her office.

Referencing British support for programmes in Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria and Afghanistan, May will say &quot;UK Aid is a badge of hope for so many around the world&quot;.

&quot;And it says this: That when this great union of nations &ndash; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland &ndash; sets its mind on something and works together with determination, we are an unstoppable force,&quot; she said.

May is a fierce unionist and hopes to stall plans by Sturgeon to hold a new referendum on independence in late 2018 or early 2019 after the country voted against breaking away in 2014 by 55 to 45 per cent.

A debate in the Scottish parliament before voting on Sturgeon&#39;s proposal was suspended last week when an attacker, later identified as British-born Khalid Masood, ploughed his car into pedestrians and tried to force his way into parliament in London, killing four. He was shot dead.

That debate is due to resume on Tuesday.

On Monday May will appeal to a sense of history and shared values to make her case for a strong union in Scotland, saying Britain has a &quot;proud shared heritage&quot;.

&quot;And on that foundation we have built a country where we share the challenges that we face, and bring all the expertise, ingenuity and goodwill we share across this union to bear to tackle them,&quot; she will say.

&quot;So as Britain leaves the European Union, and we forge a new role for ourselves in the world, the strength and stability of our union will become even more important.&quot;

(Reuters)

May is battling to keep the United Kingdom together: England and Wales voted to leave the EU but Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay

British Prime Minister Theresa May will press her case on Monday for a strong union in Scotland, using a visit to staff working on international aid to say "there is no limit to what we can do" when Britain works together. May is battling to keep the United Kingdom together after Britain's vote to leave the European Union revealed deep divisions, with England and Wales voting for Brexit, while Scotland and Northern Ireland supported staying in the bloc. Just days before the British leader launches the formal divorce procedure with the EU, May wants to try to stem demands in Scotland for a new independence referendum by promising to get a Brexit deal that will suit all parts of the country. Due to visit staff from the Department for International Development in East Kilbride in southern Scotland before meeting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, May will also say Britain will not turn its back on the world as it negotiates Brexit. "Indeed, we are going to take this opportunity to forge a more global Britain. The closest friend and ally with Europe, but also a country that looks beyond Europe to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike," she will say, according to excerpts of a speech released by her office. Referencing British support for programmes in Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Syria and Afghanistan, May will say "UK Aid is a badge of hope for so many around the world". "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," she said. May is a fierce unionist and hopes to stall plans by Sturgeon to hold a new referendum on independence in late 2018 or early 2019 after the country voted against breaking away in 2014 by 55 to 45 per cent. A debate in the Scottish parliament before voting on Sturgeon's proposal was suspended last week when an attacker, later identified as British-born Khalid Masood, ploughed his car into pedestrians and tried to force his way into parliament in London, killing four. He was shot dead. That debate is due to resume on Tuesday. On Monday May will appeal to a sense of history and shared values to make her case for a strong union in Scotland, saying Britain has a "proud shared heritage". "And on that foundation we have built a country where we share the challenges that we face, and bring all the expertise, ingenuity and goodwill we share across this union to bear to tackle them," she will say. "So as Britain leaves the European Union, and we forge a new role for ourselves in the world, the strength and stability of our union will become even more important." (Reuters)

British PM Theresa May to press for stronger union on Scotland visit

British Prime Minister Theresa May told the Scottish government on Thursday &quot;now is not the time&quot; for a second independence referendum, saying it would be unfair to ask people to vote without knowing the result of Brexit talks. 
 
While May fell short of saying her government would block a second independence referendum, her Scottish minister David Mundell was more forthright. He ruled out any discussion on the procedure to launch a vote now and immediately raised hackles north of the English border. 
 
Scottish nationalists have called for a new referendum and accuse May of all but ignoring their demands in her preparations for divorce talks with the European Union. 
 
Scotland voted to remain in the EU last June and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said after May spoke that blocking an independence referendum would be undemocratic. 
 
The remarks upped the ante in a war of words over Scottish independence as Britain prepares for intense EU exit talks. 
 
&quot;Right now we should be working together, not pulling apart,&quot; May told British television. 
 
&quot;We should be working together to get that right deal for Scotland, that right deal for the UK. That`s my job as prime minister and so for that reason I say to the SNP (Scottish National Party) now is not the time.&quot; 
 
Mundell said there would be no negotiations on Section 30, a procedure that allows the Scottish parliament to legislate for an independence referendum. 
 
&quot;We will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement, and any request at this time will be declined,&quot; Mundell told a news conference. 
 
He declined to clarify if or when a vote could take place.

Sturgeon hits back, says UK government &#39;undemocratic&#39; 
 
Sturgeon hit back, accusing May`s government of being frightened of listening to the Scots.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Any bid by the UK Government to block the people of Scotland from making a choice will be untenable, undemocratic and totally unsustainable &ndash; and clearly shows that the UK Government recognises it is out of step with the Scottish people,&quot; she said in a statement.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It would be outrageous for the Scottish Parliament to be frozen out of the process.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
No guarantees 
 
Sturgeon said Scotland should have the chance to stay in the EU`s lucrative single market and keep an open-door policy to immigrants after voting to remain, and has criticised May for failing to consult the Scottish government on her strategy. 
 
The Scottish Greens, another pro-independence party, said May risked boosting support for independence if she wanted to veto a decision expected to be made by Scotland`s devolved parliament next week. 
 
Sturgeon is by no means guaranteed of winning a referendum just 2-1/2 years after Scots voted to keep the union, but she has managed to put pressure on May just days before Britain is expected to trigger Article 50 of the EU`s Lisbon Treaty and start the formal divorce procedure. 
 
May is a unionist and will fight hard to keep Britain together but her government will be stretched in trying to negotiate a &quot;good deal&quot; with the EU and keeping vocal eurosceptics in her ruling Conservatives onboard. 
 
Britain`s vote to leave the bloc last June deepened geographical and social divisions in the country, with Scotland and Northern Ireland voting to stay in the bloc while England and Wales backed an exit. 
 
May says her government is committed to engaging with the whole of Britain over Brexit to negotiate a good deal for everyone, suggesting there should be no independence referendum until after a final deal is reach with the EU. 
&quot;To look at this issue at this time would be unfair because people wouldn`t have the necessary information to make such a crucial decision,&quot; May said. 
 
(Reuters)

The British Prime Minister, however, fell short of saying her government would block a second independence referendum

British Prime Minister Theresa May told the Scottish government on Thursday "now is not the time" for a second independence referendum, saying it would be unfair to ask people to vote without knowing the result of Brexit talks. While May fell short of saying her government would block a second independence referendum, her Scottish minister David Mundell was more forthright. He ruled out any discussion on the procedure to launch a vote now and immediately raised hackles north of the English border. Scottish nationalists have called for a new referendum and accuse May of all but ignoring their demands in her preparations for divorce talks with the European Union. Scotland voted to remain in the EU last June and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said after May spoke that blocking an independence referendum would be undemocratic. The remarks upped the ante in a war of words over Scottish independence as Britain prepares for intense EU exit talks. "Right now we should be working together, not pulling apart," May told British television. "We should be working together to get that right deal for Scotland, that right deal for the UK. That`s my job as prime minister and so for that reason I say to the SNP (Scottish National Party) now is not the time." Mundell said there would be no negotiations on Section 30, a procedure that allows the Scottish parliament to legislate for an independence referendum. "We will not be entering into discussions or negotiations about a Section 30 agreement, and any request at this time will be declined," Mundell told a news conference. He declined to clarify if or when a vote could take place. Sturgeon hits back, says UK government 'undemocratic' Sturgeon hit back, accusing May`s government of being frightened of listening to the Scots. "Any bid by the UK Government to block the people of Scotland from making a choice will be untenable, undemocratic and totally unsustainable – and clearly shows that the UK Government recognises it is out of step with the Scottish people," she said in a statement. "It would be outrageous for the Scottish Parliament to be frozen out of the process." No guarantees Sturgeon said Scotland should have the chance to stay in the EU`s lucrative single market and keep an open-door policy to immigrants after voting to remain, and has criticised May for failing to consult the Scottish government on her strategy. The Scottish Greens, another pro-independence party, said May risked boosting support for independence if she wanted to veto a decision expected to be made by Scotland`s devolved parliament next week. Sturgeon is by no means guaranteed of winning a referendum just 2-1/2 years after Scots voted to keep the union, but she has managed to put pressure on May just days before Britain is expected to trigger Article 50 of the EU`s Lisbon Treaty and start the formal divorce procedure. May is a unionist and will fight hard to keep Britain together but her government will be stretched in trying to negotiate a "good deal" with the EU and keeping vocal eurosceptics in her ruling Conservatives onboard. Britain`s vote to leave the bloc last June deepened geographical and social divisions in the country, with Scotland and Northern Ireland voting to stay in the bloc while England and Wales backed an exit. May says her government is committed to engaging with the whole of Britain over Brexit to negotiate a good deal for everyone, suggesting there should be no independence referendum until after a final deal is reach with the EU. "To look at this issue at this time would be unfair because people wouldn`t have the necessary information to make such a crucial decision," May said. (Reuters)

'Now is not the time': Theresa May on Scotland's demand for independence referendum

Parliament gave its approval Monday for Prime Minister Theresa May to start Britain&#39;s withdrawal from the European Union, even as Scotland signalled its opposition by announcing plans for a fresh independence vote. 
 
The House of Lords rejected a last-ditch attempt to amend a bill empowering May to begin Brexit, paving the way for it to become law as early as Tuesday. 
 
The prime minister could then trigger Article 50 of the EU&#39;s&nbsp;Lisbon Treaty at any time, starting two years of talks that will end with Britain becoming the first country to leave the bloc. 
 
May`s spokesman sought to play down speculation that she would send her notification letter to the European Council on Tuesday, when the bill is expected to receive royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II. 
 
&quot;We have been clear that the prime minister will trigger Article 50 by the end of March,&quot; her spokesman said ahead of the vote, heavily emphasising the word &quot;end&quot;. 
 
But the prospect of an imminent start to Brexit was enough to push the nationalist devolved government in Scotland into calling for a new independence referendum. 
 
May has said Britain will leave Europe`s single market in order to cut immigration, a move that the Scottish National Party (SNP) in power in Edinburgh has warned would be highly damaging to jobs and growth. 
 
SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said since the June referendum vote for Brexit that Scotland, where a majority wanted to stay in the EU, sought a different future. 
 
On Monday she made good on her warning, promising to give Scotland &quot;a choice at the end of this process&quot; by early 2019 -- before Britain leaves the EU. 
 
The European Commission, however, quickly responded saying that Scotland would have to reapply to join the EU rather than inheriting Britain`s membership.May has the power to block the vote and said that another referendum, after Scots voted by 55 percent to reject independence in 2014, would only cause &quot;uncertainty and division&quot;. 
 
But Sturgeon`s call pushes to centre stage one of the prime minister&#39;s biggest concerns about Brexit -- that it could lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom -- as she prepares to fire the starting gun. 
 
The other 27 European leaders are prepared for Britain to trigger Article 50, which begins a two-year countdown to Brexit, this week. 
 
However, speculation is growing that it may now be delayed until after a March 25 summit in Rome to mark the EU`s 60th birthday -- timing that would likely be welcomed in Brussels. 
 
Once May has notified the EU of her decision by letter, the bloc will take just 48 hours to issue its first draft proposal for the negotiations, with a follow-up meeting planned on April 6. 
 
The actual talks are not expected to begin for months. 
 
The bill empowering May to begin Brexit was forced on the government by a Supreme Court ruling and was held up when the House of Lords voted for amendments demanding guarantees for EU nationals` rights and a parliamentary vote on the final withdrawal deal. 
 
Brexit minister David Davis successfully urged MPs to overturn the changes earlier Monday, saying: &quot;We will not enter the negotiations with our hands tied.&quot; 
 
The House of Lords then conceded, passing the bill unamended late on Monday.The Lords amendment demanding protections for more than three million Europeans living in Britain was defeated by 335 votes to 287 by MPs -- prompting shouts of &quot;shame on you&quot; from protesters outside. 
 
Around 150 people had gathered to urge MPs to back the change, including Karin Templin, a 39-year-old architect who was born in the US but is now British. 
 
&quot;I`m appalled at the UK government, at this stupid ridiculous game that means they won`t guarantee the rights of everybody who wants to stay in their home and in their jobs. I`m disgusted,&quot; she said. 
 
May`s government says it wants to guarantee Europeans` rights to stay in Britain, but cannot until EU leaders offer similar rights to British expatriates. 
 
The other amendment that was overturned would have given parliament the right to decide whether to accept the final Brexit deal. 
 
May has promised lawmakers a vote on the deal but only if she accepts it -- insisting her ability to walk away will strengthen her hand in negotiations. 
 
(AFP)

Scotland has demanded a new independence vote before britain formally breaks away from the EU

Parliament gave its approval Monday for Prime Minister Theresa May to start Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, even as Scotland signalled its opposition by announcing plans for a fresh independence vote. The House of Lords rejected a last-ditch attempt to amend a bill empowering May to begin Brexit, paving the way for it to become law as early as Tuesday. The prime minister could then trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty at any time, starting two years of talks that will end with Britain becoming the first country to leave the bloc. May`s spokesman sought to play down speculation that she would send her notification letter to the European Council on Tuesday, when the bill is expected to receive royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II. "We have been clear that the prime minister will trigger Article 50 by the end of March," her spokesman said ahead of the vote, heavily emphasising the word "end". But the prospect of an imminent start to Brexit was enough to push the nationalist devolved government in Scotland into calling for a new independence referendum. May has said Britain will leave Europe`s single market in order to cut immigration, a move that the Scottish National Party (SNP) in power in Edinburgh has warned would be highly damaging to jobs and growth. SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said since the June referendum vote for Brexit that Scotland, where a majority wanted to stay in the EU, sought a different future. On Monday she made good on her warning, promising to give Scotland "a choice at the end of this process" by early 2019 -- before Britain leaves the EU. The European Commission, however, quickly responded saying that Scotland would have to reapply to join the EU rather than inheriting Britain`s membership.May has the power to block the vote and said that another referendum, after Scots voted by 55 percent to reject independence in 2014, would only cause "uncertainty and division". But Sturgeon`s call pushes to centre stage one of the prime minister's biggest concerns about Brexit -- that it could lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom -- as she prepares to fire the starting gun. The other 27 European leaders are prepared for Britain to trigger Article 50, which begins a two-year countdown to Brexit, this week. However, speculation is growing that it may now be delayed until after a March 25 summit in Rome to mark the EU`s 60th birthday -- timing that would likely be welcomed in Brussels. Once May has notified the EU of her decision by letter, the bloc will take just 48 hours to issue its first draft proposal for the negotiations, with a follow-up meeting planned on April 6. The actual talks are not expected to begin for months. The bill empowering May to begin Brexit was forced on the government by a Supreme Court ruling and was held up when the House of Lords voted for amendments demanding guarantees for EU nationals` rights and a parliamentary vote on the final withdrawal deal. Brexit minister David Davis successfully urged MPs to overturn the changes earlier Monday, saying: "We will not enter the negotiations with our hands tied." The House of Lords then conceded, passing the bill unamended late on Monday.The Lords amendment demanding protections for more than three million Europeans living in Britain was defeated by 335 votes to 287 by MPs -- prompting shouts of "shame on you" from protesters outside. Around 150 people had gathered to urge MPs to back the change, including Karin Templin, a 39-year-old architect who was born in the US but is now British. "I`m appalled at the UK government, at this stupid ridiculous game that means they won`t guarantee the rights of everybody who wants to stay in their home and in their jobs. I`m disgusted," she said. May`s government says it wants to guarantee Europeans` rights to stay in Britain, but cannot until EU leaders offer similar rights to British expatriates. The other amendment that was overturned would have given parliament the right to decide whether to accept the final Brexit deal. May has promised lawmakers a vote on the deal but only if she accepts it -- insisting her ability to walk away will strengthen her hand in negotiations. (AFP)

UK Parliament passes bill to trigger Brexit amid Scotland's demand for fresh independence referendum

Scotland&#39;s opposition leader insisted Saturday there should be no second referendum on Scottish independence, urging the governing nationalists to concentrate on making the best of Brexit rather than exploiting it for another secession push.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told the party&#39;s conference in Glasgow that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party (SNP) was trying to bounce the country into a new referendum.

Scotland voted to stay in the United Kingdom by 55 per cent in the 2014 vote.

It also voted by 62 per cent for the UK to remain in the European Union last year, while the UK-wide vote was to leave, which Sturgeon seized upon.

She has said Brexit makes a second independence referendum &quot;highly likely.&quot;&nbsp;

Many in her left-wing secessionist party hope she will announce a fresh bid at the SNP conference on March 17-18, with Britain set to trigger two years of divorce talks with the EU by the end of the month.

Davidson, leader of the second-biggest party in the semi-autonomous Scottish Parliament, reaffirmed her opposition to independence.

&quot;Scotland said no to independence. Scotland is saying: stop trying to bounce us into another referendum,&quot; she told her centre-right party.

&quot;The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party will never waver in our determination to stand up for the decision we made as a country. We will fight you every step of the way.

&quot;We said &#39;no,&#39; we meant it. Are you listening, Nicola? No second referendum.

&quot;We deserve a Scottish government that is focused on helping Team UK get the best Brexit deal for all of us, not using it to revive its independence obsession.&quot;

Nationalists protest outside&nbsp;

Outside the conference, around 200 nationalists gathered to protest, chanting &quot;Tory scum&quot; and waving banners calling for another referendum.

Susan McGilvray, 41, an SNP member from East Ayrshire on Scotland&#39;s west coast, told AFP: &quot;I would love to see the call for a second referendum.&quot;

While polls have shifted slightly, support for independence remains in a minority.

McGilvray said: &quot;We might lose it, but no-one ever got anywhere by saying &#39;what if&#39;?&quot;

The Scottish Parliament does not have the authority to hold a second independence referendum. It must seek the permission of the staunchly unionist British Prime Minister Theresa May.

John Menzies, 48, an SNP councillor from Hamilton near Glasgow, was among several dozen motorcyclists who gathered under the banner &quot;Bikers for Yes.&quot;

May, Britain&#39;s Conservative leader, would be &quot;very silly&quot; if she blocked a fresh referendum, he argued.

&quot;That would irk even more of the Scottish people, who then go on and vote for independence,&quot; he said.

On Friday, May told the conference in Glasgow that the SNP&#39;s &quot;obsession&quot; with independence and &quot;tunnel vision nationalism&quot; had caused it to neglect running Scotland&#39;s public services properly.

(AFP)

Ruth Davidson urged governing nationalists to concentrate on making the best of Brexit rather than exploiting it for another secession push

Scotland's opposition leader insisted Saturday there should be no second referendum on Scottish independence, urging the governing nationalists to concentrate on making the best of Brexit rather than exploiting it for another secession push. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told the party's conference in Glasgow that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party (SNP) was trying to bounce the country into a new referendum. Scotland voted to stay in the United Kingdom by 55 per cent in the 2014 vote. It also voted by 62 per cent for the UK to remain in the European Union last year, while the UK-wide vote was to leave, which Sturgeon seized upon. She has said Brexit makes a second independence referendum "highly likely." Many in her left-wing secessionist party hope she will announce a fresh bid at the SNP conference on March 17-18, with Britain set to trigger two years of divorce talks with the EU by the end of the month. Davidson, leader of the second-biggest party in the semi-autonomous Scottish Parliament, reaffirmed her opposition to independence. "Scotland said no to independence. Scotland is saying: stop trying to bounce us into another referendum," she told her centre-right party. "The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party will never waver in our determination to stand up for the decision we made as a country. We will fight you every step of the way. "We said 'no,' we meant it. Are you listening, Nicola? No second referendum. "We deserve a Scottish government that is focused on helping Team UK get the best Brexit deal for all of us, not using it to revive its independence obsession." Nationalists protest outside Outside the conference, around 200 nationalists gathered to protest, chanting "Tory scum" and waving banners calling for another referendum. Susan McGilvray, 41, an SNP member from East Ayrshire on Scotland's west coast, told AFP: "I would love to see the call for a second referendum." While polls have shifted slightly, support for independence remains in a minority. McGilvray said: "We might lose it, but no-one ever got anywhere by saying 'what if'?" The Scottish Parliament does not have the authority to hold a second independence referendum. It must seek the permission of the staunchly unionist British Prime Minister Theresa May. John Menzies, 48, an SNP councillor from Hamilton near Glasgow, was among several dozen motorcyclists who gathered under the banner "Bikers for Yes." May, Britain's Conservative leader, would be "very silly" if she blocked a fresh referendum, he argued. "That would irk even more of the Scottish people, who then go on and vote for independence," he said. On Friday, May told the conference in Glasgow that the SNP's "obsession" with independence and "tunnel vision nationalism" had caused it to neglect running Scotland's public services properly. (AFP)

Scotland's opposition takes dim view of second independence referendum

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday it was &quot;highly likely&quot; that Scotland would hold a new independence referendum before 2020 after Britain voted to leave the European Union.

Asked on ITV`s Peston on Sunday programme whether she would anticipate a second Scottish referendum before 2020, Sturgeon said: &quot;I think it is highly likely given the situation we`re in ... If anything what has happened since then has probably made me think that even more so than I did the morning after the referendum.&quot;

Scotland voted by a large margin to remain in the European Union, while overall Britain voted to leave in a referendum that has reignited talk of a split between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. Scots rejected independence two years ago.

Sturgeon told her Scottish National Party&#39;s annual conference last week the devolved government was preparing for all possibilities including independence after Britain leaves the EU.

(Reuters)

Britain's decision to leave the EU has reignited talk of a split between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday it was "highly likely" that Scotland would hold a new independence referendum before 2020 after Britain voted to leave the European Union. Asked on ITV`s Peston on Sunday programme whether she would anticipate a second Scottish referendum before 2020, Sturgeon said: "I think it is highly likely given the situation we`re in ... If anything what has happened since then has probably made me think that even more so than I did the morning after the referendum." Scotland voted by a large margin to remain in the European Union, while overall Britain voted to leave in a referendum that has reignited talk of a split between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. Scots rejected independence two years ago. Sturgeon told her Scottish National Party's annual conference last week the devolved government was preparing for all possibilities including independence after Britain leaves the EU. (Reuters)

Scottish independence vote 'highly likely' before 2020: Sturgeon