Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday said a decision whether to hold a second independence referendum is yet to taken, media reports said.
"There can't be a referendum, and there certainly can't be independence for Scotland, unless a majority of people in Scotland clearly want that," she said, reported the BBC.
Her comments came after former first minister Alex Salmond on Sunday said that a second vote was "inevitable".
Sturgeon said: "It will be my ultimate decision, in line with the democratic decision making processes of the Scotland National Party (SNP), to determine whether or not there is a commitment to a second referendum in the SNP manifesto for the Scottish election."
"And in due course we will take that decision and take that decision based on what we consider to be in the best interests of the country," she added.
Scottish voters rejected independence by 55 percent to 45 percent in last September's referendum.
After the SNP won 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland in May's general election, Sturgeon stressed there was "no second Scottish independence referendum on the immediate horizon".
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
