Scottish leader softens stance on possible independence vote timing

LONDON - Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday softened her stance on the potential timing of a second independence referendum after Prime Minister Theresa May rejected her call to hold a vote before Britain leaves the European Union.

Sturgeon had called for a referendum to be held between autumn 2018 and spring 2019 but after May said "now is not the time", the Scottish leader said she could be prepared to hold a vote later as long as it was not too long after Brexit.

"It is for (May) then to say what time scale she thinks would be appropriate and then yes I am happy to have that discussion within reason," Sturgeon said during an interview with ITV.