Nicola Sturgeon insists that a Scottish independence referendum will take place before the end of next year

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Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “determined” that Scots will be able to vote in a second independence referendum by the end of next year.

The First Minister used today’s interview to claim that Scotland faced a choice between going its own way or sticking to the “chaotic instability” of Westminster.

The Scottish National Party leader once again pointed to her party’s victory in Holyrood last year as evidence that she has a mandate to ask the country’s big constitutional question for the second time in a decade.

Sturgeon declined to say when the legislation paving the way for IndyRef2 would be introduced in the Scottish Parliament – but hinted that a timetable could be revealed in “the coming weeks”.

There is a pro-independence majority of Holyrood board members, but the power to hold a legally binding referendum rests with the UK government.

Boris Johnson has repeatedly insisted that the outcome of the 2014 independence vote must be respected.

Nicola Sturgeon wants IndyRef2 to take place next year. Read more related articles Read more related articles

Asked when the legislation would be introduced, Sturgeon told the BBC: “Preparatory work is now underway – but we haven’t said when we will seek to introduce the bill.

“What I have said, and I will say again happily, is that my intention is to take the steps that will facilitate the holding of the referendum before the end of 2023.

“This is the proposal, which a little less than a year ago I ran in elections and was re-elected as First Minister.

“This is about democracy. It is about letting the people of Scotland choose our future.

“For goodness sake, when we look at all that is happening – and what has been happening for years – in Westminster, the chaotic instability, the unpredictability, there are a growing number of people who believe we can do a better job as an independent nation.”

Pressed again upon the emergence of IndyRef2 legislation, the Chief Minister added: “At the beginning of the pandemic I made it clear that we were suspending plans for an independence referendum.

“If only Boris Johnson had done the same on his Brexit plans, we wouldn’t see some Brexit-related chaos right now.

“I am determined – and I won an election on that basis – to give the people of Scotland a choice about our future.

“And I believe that when that choice comes, people will choose an independent future.

“Preparations for that are underway and we will determine the exact date for the introduction of that legislation in due course,” he added.

“Hopefully we will be on a downward omicron slope that will clear the way for us to do that.

“The main thing is that we will take these steps that will facilitate this referendum before the end of 2023.”

Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Conservative Party’s spokesman on recovering from Covid-19, said: “Nicola Sturgeon is being cautious when it comes to her obsession with yet another divisive independence referendum.

“It is reckless to try to divide the country when there is an economic crisis facing workers and businesses. But as we now know very well, the first, last and only real priority of Nicola Sturgeon is independence.

“The SNP is not in touch with the priorities of the Scottish public. Rather than trying to separate Scotland from the UK, they should focus on our economic recovery from coronavirus and the protection of public services.”

Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: “The first minister is very far from the priorities of the people of Scotland.

“Imagine if she devoted as much time to addressing the achievement gap, or NHS waiting times, or the climate emergency as she does to trying to divide families, friends and communities.

“People are not fools and know that whatever they think of Boris Johnson, dividing our country is not the answer.”

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