Independence Referendum Viable Option to Ensure Scottish People's Interest

The Scottish government will seek what is in the Scottish people's best interest during the Brexit negotiations, even if that means holding a new referendum on independence from the United Kingdom, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On June 23, the United Kingdom held a referendum in which 51.9 percent of voters, or 17.4 million people, opted for the country to leave the European Union in a term that became known as Brexit.

"If it all fails and Scotland is faced with the prospect of being taken off the cliff edge by a UK government intent on leaving the Single Market, then I think Scotland has a right to choose," Sturgeon said in an interview with Sky News media outlet.

Sturgeon added that her government would shortly put forward "creative" proposals to keep Scotland in the European Single Market and the proposals could include the possibility of Scots keeping their EU citizenship.

Sturgeon is expected to meet UK Prime Minister Theresa May and other leaders of developed administrations to discuss Brexit later this month.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been a vocal critic of London's handling of the EU referendum, which saw Britain vote to leave the European Union, and the anti-immigration rhetoric it sparked.