Nicola Sturgeon: Autumn 2018 is the “obvious” date for the next Scottish referendum
The next Scottish independence referendum could take place as soon as autumn 2018, according to Scotland's first minister.
In an interview with the BBC today, Nicola Sturgeon refused to rule out next autumn as a date for a new referendum.
"Within the window of when… a deal becomes clear on the UK exiting the EU… [autumn 2018] would be the common sense time for Scotland to have that choice if that is the road we choose to go down," she said.
Asked whether she was bluffing, Sturgeon added: "I'm not [bluffing] and I never have been. It suggests there are politicians in Westminster who think Brexit is some kind of game. It's not a game. It's really serious."
At the end of last month sterling tumbled against the dollar amid concerns enthusiasm for another Indyref had strengthened since the Brexit vote.
"The UK’s decision to quit the European Union had immediately triggered questions regarding Scotland’s future in the United Kingdom. However, the eventuality hasn’t been largely factored in the pound’s value so far," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, of LCG Insight, at the time.
"If Scotland decides to proceed with the second referendum to quit the UK, there would certainly be another fundamental downshift in the pound’s value, both against the US dollar and the euro."
Today the pound was down 0.2 per cent, at $1.2149, having fallen sharply after yesterday's Budget.
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