Sturgeon seeks agreement on IndyRef2 as she sets out plans for year ahead

Nicola Sturgeon is to demand Holyrood is given the power to hold a second legally binding Scottish independence referendum.

With the Scottish Government having already brought forward legislation that could pave the way for such a vote, the First Minister confirmed she will “seek agreement to the transfer of power that will put the referendum beyond legal challenge''.

While Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated his opposition to a second vote on Scotland leaving the UK, the SNP leader said it “now seems inevitable that there will be an early UK general election''.

She put her opponents on notice, saying: “Let me by crystal clear today - the SNP will put Scotland's opposition to Brexit and our right to choose independence at the very heart of that contest.''

The First Minister spoke out as she unveiled her Programme for Government, detailing the 14 Bills that SNP ministers will bring forward over the coming year.

Ms Sturgeon pledged the “centrepiece''' of that would be work to tackle the climate emergency - but she also hit out at the “political and constitutional emergency that is engulfing the UK''.

With the UK facing the prospect of crashing out of the European Union on October 31, she said her Government would continue to make plans for this “with a focus on ensuring continuity of medicine and food supplies, and providing reassurance and support for EU citizens''.

Ms Sturgeon said: “As long as no-deal remains a risk, we will be doing everything we can to ensure that Scotland is as prepared as we can be.

“However, unlike the UK Government, we will be honest about the inability to prevent all of the harm that a catastrophic no-deal brexit would inflict.''

She added “mitigating bad Westminster decisions should not be what this Parliament is about'', saying Holyrood should be “focusing all of our energies on positive decisions that will secure the best future for our country''.

The First Minister insisted: “The opportunity to choose that better, more hopeful future as an independent country is one that Scotland deserves. And this Government is determined to offer it.''

Pamela Nash, chief executive of the pro-UK campaign group Scotland in Union, hit out at the First Minister, arguing talk of another independence vote was “an irresponsible and reckless threat''.

She said: “The very last thing that Scotland needs at a time of constitutional crisis is more constitutional chaos.'