Ignoring Scottish referendum mandate would ‘shatter’ UK structure – Sturgeon | Reuters

By Elisabeth O'Leary | ABERDEEN, Scotland ABERDEEN, Scotland Refusal by Britain's prime minister to discuss an independence referendum would "shatter beyond repair" the United Kingdom's constitutional structure, Nicola Sturgeon told her Scottish National Party on Saturday.Sturgeon pledged to press on with plans to hold a new Scottish referendum as announced earlier this week, deepening a standoff with the UK government. Party faithful gave her a rapturous reception, cheering, clapping and jumping to their feet.Sturgeon expects to get authorisation from the devolved Scottish parliament on Wednesday to seek the terms for a new secession vote, aiming for a date once the terms for Brexit are clear but before Britain leaves the EU."To stand in defiance of (Scottish parliamentary authorisation) would be for the prime minister to shatter beyond repair any notion of the UK as a respectful partnership of equals," Sturgeon, who is also Scotland's First Minister, said."Scotland's future will be in Scotland's hands."Under the UK's constitutional arrangements, Britain's parliament needs to sign off on any legally binding vote in Scotland.

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