Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon is returning to her harder line on Scottish Independence, as her government would release a proposal this week, which would outline Scotland’s plans with regard to Brexit. Immediately after the United Kingdom voted on June 23rd to leave the European Union, Ms. Sturgeon threatened to hold another referendum on Scottish independence. So, this document is likely to unveil her negotiating stance and is highly expected to reveal Scotland’s primary goal to access the single market. Ms. Sturgeon is likely to push for another independence referendum if her proposals are ignored or set aside.

Scottish foreign affairs minister, Alex Salmond, who was the first minister during the Scottish independence vote revealed his government’s position, speaking to Sunday politics Scotland, ““One: keep the UK within the single marketplace; secondly, if that’s not possible, keep Scotland within the single marketplace; and if that doesn’t happen and the UK is unwilling to listen to Scotland’s representations, then it’s very likely there will be an independence referendum within the next two years.”

Ms. Sturgeon has herself warned with regard to Brexit negotiation, “If our interests cannot be protected in this process, or are indeed brushed aside by the UK government, then the people of Scotland should have the option of considering independence. That is why we are consulting on legislation that would allow another independence referendum to take place if necessary.”