UK

Scottish independence vote postponed, Nicola Sturgeon tells MSPs

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where she confirmed plans for a second referendum on independence have been put on hold 
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where she confirmed plans for a second referendum on independence have been put on hold  First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where she confirmed plans for a second referendum on independence have been put on hold 

Nicola Sturgeon confirmed a second vote on Scottish independence is being postponed as she announced a "reset" of the timetable set out for another referendum.

The First Minister had said in March she wanted to give Scots a second chance to vote on leaving the UK some time between the autumn of 2018 and the spring 2019.

But she told MSPs at Holyrood: "We will not seek to introduce the legislation for an independence referendum immediately."

Ms Sturgeon had originally argued another ballot over independence was necessary to give Scots - who voted to stay in the European Union in June 2016 - an alternative to the "hard Brexit" being pursued by the Tories.

She insisted on Tuesday that the Scottish Government "remains committed strongly to the principle of giving Scotland a choice at the end of this process".

Ms Sturgeon said having reflected on the issue in the wake of the general election - in which the SNP's share of the vote fell from 50% to 30% as the party lost 21 Westminster constituencies - she wanted to reassure people.

The First Minister said she still wanted to give people a choice at the end of the Brexit process when "clarity has emerged" about how the move will impact Scotland and the UK.

In the meantime, she said ministers would "in good faith redouble our efforts and put our shoulder to the wheel in seeking to influence the Brexit talks in a way that protects Scotland's interests".