Alwaght- Scotland will move to hold a second referendum on independence from the United Kingdom, the country's First Minister confirmed on Monday.
Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement in a speech at Bute House, saying she wanted a vote to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of and spring 2019- – before it was "too late" but after "the terms of Brexit are known".
She said the UK Government had "not moved even an inch in pursuit of compromise and agreement" with the Scottish Government over Brexit and that even a good deal would be "significantly inferior" to the status quo.
"If Scotland can be ignored on an issue as important as the EU and the single market then it is clear that our voice can be ignored at any time and on any issue," the Guardian cited her as saying.
The First Minister says she will apply to the UK Government to authorise the referendum but that it should respect the will of the Scottish Parliament.
She added: "The option of no change is no longer available. But we will give the Scottish people a choice about the kind of change we want."
"I believe that it would be wrong for Scotland to be taken down a path that it has no control over regardless of the consequences for our economy, for our society, for our place in the world, for our very sense of who we are as a country. That would be wrong, and therefore my judgement is that we should have that choice," she said.
"I believe that in a referendum the Scottish people will opt for independence, but that will be the choice of the Scottish people and I’ve been very clear that that will be an informed choice.".
Prime Minister Theresa May has so far avoided saying whether or not she would grant permission.
Her official spokesman responded to Ms Sturgeon's announcement by saying that the evidence "clearly showed a majority of people in Scotland do not want a second independence referendum".
He added: "Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish government defined as a 'once in a generation' vote.
"Another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time".
