Even after warnings that she would not permit a second vote on Scottish independence to take place, Prime Minister Theresa May received a letter on Friday from Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, formally demanding exactly that after the triggering of Article 50.Britain voted to leave the EU last June, however Scotland and Wales voted against the decision, which, claims Sturgeon, justifies the will for a second vote.Furthermore, Scotland's devolved parliament voted on Tuesday to proceed with holding another referendum in 2018 or 2019, however the U.K. government has to approve this decision before a referendum can be held.Sturgeon wished May well in the upcoming divorce negotiations, however she was concerned about the U.K. leaving the European Single Market.

"In these very changed circumstances, the people of Scotland must have the right to choose our own future - in short, to exercise our right of self-determination," she wrote.Sturgeon agrees with May that now is not the time to hold a referendum."There appears to be no rational reason for you to stand in the way of the will of the Scottish Parliament and I hope you will not do so," Sturgeon wrote.A spokesman for May said the U.K. government would respond in due course but ruled out discussions on a second secession vote before Britain leaves the EU.