Scottish Parliament expected to back indyref2

The Scottish Parliament is expected to back the Scottish Nationalist Party’s motion to hold a second independence referendum within two years.

The vote comes after a meeting with Prime Minster Theresa May and Nicola sturgeon on Monday did not break the impasse between the two leaders.

The First Minister of Scotland said that meeting had been “perfectly business-like and cordial," but did not come to anything.

The vote for further discussions with Westminster to hold another referendum is expected to pass on Tuesday with the backing of the SNP’s minority Scottish government and the Scottish Green party.

Scottish Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservatives are against holding a second independence referendum, with the Scottish Labour leader saying: "Brexit isn’t the motivation for another referendum; it’s just the latest excuse."

The Scottish Parliament held a two-day debate last week but it was cut short following news of the Westminster terror attack.

Scots voted against independence in the first referendum in September 2014 by 55% to 45% and at the time Sturgeon said that it was a once in a generation vote, however she has argued that since May is intent on a so called 'hard Brexit' – no longer being a member of the European single market and customs union – there had been a "material change" in circumstance and it warrants a new referendum.

Sturgeon said that leaving the single market would hamper Scotland’s economic prospects which was reinforced by Scotland voting to remain a part of the EU by 62% in last June’s referendum, while the rest of the country voted to Leave. However, a recent poll has showed that there is growing euroscepticism among Scots.

May previously said that "now is not the time" for a second referendum as she plans to trigger Article 50 – the two year clock of formal exit negotiations with the EU – on Wednesday.

Sturgeon is aiming to hold it the referendum in autumn 2018 or spring 2019 but needs permission from Westminster first.