The Scottish parliament was expected to vote Wednesday for a second independence referendum -- amid dire warnings about the damage that constitutional wrangling was having on Scotland's economy.

Sturgeon said Tuesday it would "wrong, unfair and utterly unsustainable" for May to stand in the Scottish Parliament's way.

Scotland rejected independence in 2014, although the SNP argues Britain's decision last June to leave the EU warrants a fresh referendum as a majority in Scotland voted for Britain to remain within the bloc.

Sturgeon has suggested a second referendum should be held by early 2019 at the latest.

The SNP runs a minority government in the Scottish Parliament.

The September 2014 referendum saw Scotland reject independence by 55 percent.

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