Sturgeon is now the longest-serving first minister in Scottish history and has led the pro-independence Scottish National Party since 2014. She made the announcement as the Scottish Government published the "Scottish Independence Referendum Bill," which will be sent to the nation's Supreme Court to seek clarity on whether or not the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate such a referendum.
The court, based in Edinburgh, will then determine whether or not the bill meets the constitutional requirements.
Scotland last voted for its independence in 2014, when the "Yes Scotland" campaign lost its quest for independence by 55-45 percent. However, things have changed since that referendum due to the U.K. voting to leave the European Union in 2016.
Still, polls conducted this year showed similar results to the 2014 election, despite many Scots angered by Prime Minister Boris Johnson's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sturgeon is planning to write Johnson for permission to hold a consultative referendum ahead of the planned October 2023 vote, stressing that it is vital the vote was legal and that the issue would be referred to the U.K. Supreme Court.
However, she also said that she would still press on with her plan whether or not the U.K. government grants her request.
"Independence is about equipping ourselves to navigate the future, guided by our own values, aspirations and interests," she said, adding that now is the time to debate and decide the future of the country. "Now is the time to get Scotland on the right path – the path chosen by those who live here. Now is the time for independence."
British government says matter already settled
Sturgeon is one of many Scots who no longer wishes for Johnson or other U.K. prime ministers to make rules for Scotland, although Johnson and the Conservative Party are strongly against Scottish independence, insisting that the matter was already decided in 2014. (Related: "TEXIT" begins! State lawmaker files legislation to allow residents to decide if they want to leave the U.S. as Biden’s Marxists take over.)
"What I am not willing to do, what I will never do, is allow Scottish democracy to be a prisoner of Boris Johnson or any prime minister," Sturgeon said.
This same point was stressed in the SNP's 2022 manifesto, which read: "The people of Scotland have the right to decide our own future and the people best able to decide how Scotland is governed are the people who live here."
While Johnson was deeply involved in the G7 Summit taking place in Bavaria and has not yet commented publicly on the new referendum, a spokesman told reporters that now is not the time to be considering such independence.
"Our position remains unchanged: Both [the British government’s] and the Scottish government’s priority should be working together with a relentless focus on the issues that we know matter to people up and down the country," the spokesman said.
The spokesman did promise, however, that the government would closely study the matter and the Supreme Court will consider whether or not to accept the Scottish government's Lord Advocate's (top law officer) referral.
Sturgeon also believes that the Scottish Parliament "has a clear, democratic mandate" to offer Scotland another chance to choose independence, especially given the massive changes to the U.K. since this was last brought to attention.
"The U.K. and Scottish Governments should be sitting down together, responsibly agreeing on a process, including a section 30 order, that allows the Scottish people to decide. That would be the democratic way to proceed," Sturgeon said. (Related: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson draws flak over bill allowing recruitment of children to spy on their parents.)
However, Johnson's government has been reluctant to issue such an order, as it would give Scotland's parliament the go-ahead to schedule a referendum. This did not deter Sturgeon, who said that "the issue of independence cannot be suppressed. It must be resolved democratically. And that must be through a process that is above reproach and commands confidence."
Watch the video below to know what it means to have an "independent" Scotland.
This video is from the Geopolitics & Empire channel on Brighteon.com.
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