Scotland"s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said she wouldn"t propose a referendum on Scottish independence immediately, as she wants to make sure the country is clear of the coronavirus pandemic first. "I don"t believe we should propose a referendum right at this moment," Sturgeon told BBC Radio. "I"m a lifelong believer in independence, I want Scotland to be independent, but firstly we"ve got to steer the country through the crisis." Sturgeon"s party, the Scottish National Party, have pledged to hold a new referendum by the end of 2023 if they win a majority in an election on May 6. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.