Sturgeon plots alternative route to Scottish independence vote next year

First minister claims there is a legally secure path to holding referendum without Westminster's approval

Nicola Sturgeon plans to stage a fresh Scottish independence vote late next year without authority from Boris Johnson's government, in a move likely to provoke lengthy legal battles.

The first minister said on Tuesday she would update Holyrood on her plans very soon indeed" as she released a report claiming Scotland should aspire to match the prosperity rates of small European countries such as Denmark and Ireland after independence.