By Adam Bienkov From Business Insider

LONDON — Theresa May has announced her intention to block a second Scottish independence referendum before Britain has left the EU.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Monday that she intends to call a referendum at some point between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019.

However, the prime minister today told Sturgeon that “now is not the time” to hold a referendum as it would “not be fair” to expect the Scottish people to vote again when the UK’s future relationship with EU is still unclear.

“Just at this point, all our energies should be focused on our negotiations with the European Union about our future relationship,” she said.

“To be talking about an independence referendum will make it more difficult for us to be able to get the right deal for Scotland, and the right deal for the UK. And more than that, I think it wouldn’t be fair to the people of Scotland because they’re being asked to make a crucial decision without all the necessary information – without knowing what the future partnership would be, or what the alternative of an independent Scotland would look like.”

Sturgeon accused May of “blocking Scotland’s right to choose”.

“[The Scottish government] is not proposing [a referendum]  now,” she Tweeted.

“But when the terms of Brexit clear and before it is too late to choose an alternative path. A section 30 order must be discussed and agreed now to enable that timescale.

“If the Tories refuse to do so, they would effectively be blocking Scotland’s right to choose when the Brexit terms clear. This would be undemocratic given @scotgov clear mandate and also proof positive that the Tories fear the verdict of the Scottish people.”

May’s announcement follows a series of hints that she intended to block it.

A spokesperson for the prime minister said earlier this week that holding a second referendum during Brexit negotiations would be the “worst possible time”.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson also said that a second referendum “cannot happen” before Brexit.

“A referendum cannot happen when the people of Scotland have not been given the opportunity to see how our relationship with the European Union is working,” she said in a statement.

Formally blocking a referendum is a risky move for the prime minister. Polling expert John Curtice told Business Insider that doing so would cause a surge in support for independence and be “politically catastrophic.”

“Given that it won’t require a great number of people to change their minds before we are in the realm where “Yes” are ahead, I wouldn’t want to take that risk [of denying Scotland a referendum] if I were the UK government,” Curtice said.

The move also puts May at odds with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn said last week that while he opposed a second referendum it would be “absolutely fine” to hold one if the Scottish parliament vote to do so.

However, Scottish Labor leader Kezia Dugdale today backed May’s decision to block the referendum.

“Scottish Labour will vote against Nicola Sturgeon’s demands for a second referendum on Scotland leaving the UK. Our country is divided enough – we don’t need another divisive referendum,” Dugdale said in a statement.

“There absolutely should not be another independence referendum until after Brexit. We have no idea what Brexit looks like, or how it will impact our economy and families in Scotland. People cannot be asked to make a decision about the future of our 300-year old Union in the dark. If there is to be another vote the people of Scotland deserve clarity on what they are being asked to vote on…

“If after Brexit we have that clarity and the people of Scotland want a referendum on leaving the UK then it isn’t the job of the UK government to stand in the way of that.”

IMAGE: Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon WPA Pool / Getty

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