Nicola Sturgeon has insisted “now is the time for independence” as she unveiled plans to hold a second referendum on Scotland’s place in the UK on October 19 2023.

The Scottish First Minister outlined plans to hold a consultative vote on that date, with her government publishing a Bill to enable a second referendum.

She also revealed to MSPs at Holyrood that Scotland’s most senior law officer, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain will refer the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill to the UK Supreme Court, to see if such a vote would be legal.

However, Boris Johnson has insisted the focus should be on the economy, as he argued the UK would have a “stronger economy and stronger country together”.

A Number 10 spokesman made clear the prime minister continues to believe it is “not the time to be talking about” a second referendum on Scottish independence.

The spokesman said: “Our position remains unchanged that both ours and the Scottish Government’s priority should be working together with a relentless focus on the issues that we know matter to people up and down the country.”

Johnson, meanwhile, said that while he would study the Scottish First Minister’s plans “the focus of the country should be on building a stronger economy”.

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