Nicola Sturgeon has announced a “reset” of the Scottish Government’s plans to hold a new independence vote.
The First Minister previously called for a second referendum to be held in autumn 2018 or spring 2019 following Britain’s decision to leave the EU.
But today she told MSPs at Holyrood she would “not seek to introduce the legislation for an independence referendum immediately.”
It comes in the wake of a difficult General Election result for the SNP in which they lost 21 MPs – a result many have attributed to the party’s pursuit of a new independence poll.
Ms Sturgeon said it remains her view that Scots should have a say on their future “at the end of the Brexit process” but said it is still “too soon” for many.
She added: “The Scottish government remains committed strongly to the principle of giving Scotland a choice at the end of this process.
“But I want to reassure people that our proposal is not for a referendum now, or before there is sufficient clarity about the options – but rather to give them a choice at the end of the Brexit process when that clarity has emerged.
“I am therefore confirming today that having listened and reflected the Scottish Government will reset the plan I set out on March 13.”
The First Minister said she would come back to the the Parliament at the end of the UK’s negotiation period with the EU – likely to be around next autumn – “to set out our judgment on the way forward”.
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”.
She called on opposition parties to “back the demands for the democratically elected Scottish Government to be at the table, able to influence the UK’s negotiating strategy, and for Scotland and the UK to stay in the single market.”
Responding to the announcement, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson accused the First Minister of “leaking credibility by the hour”.
“Today’s statement fails to give people any assurance that the First Minister has been listening,” she said.
“Instead, she appears to be in denial about her mistakes over this last year and, as a result, is leaking credibility and confidence in her leadership by the hour.
“Her response hasn’t been to reflect. It’s been simply to lash out at the UK Government at every opportunity and to sing the same old songs in the same old tune.
“She now claims to be putting the referendum to one side. She should just give the country some certainty and take it off the table for the rest of this parliament at least.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale claimed Ms Sturgeon was “digging her heels in” and “not listening” to Scottish voters.
She added: “The threat of an unwanted second independence referendum is dead.
“This didn’t happen because Nicola Sturgeon wanted it to. The people of Scotland have taken that decision for her.”
