Scottish government sets stage for another independence vote

Tower Bridge in London, Saturday, May 8, 2021, against the backdrop of the skyline of the financial district. On what was dubbed Super Thursday, around 50 million voters were eligible to take part in scores of elections in the UK, some of which had been postponed a year because of the pandemic that has left the U.K. with Europe’s largest coronavirus death toll. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

First Minister and SNP party leader Nicola Sturgeon celebrates after retaining her seat for Glasgow Southside at the count for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections in Glasgow, Scotland, Friday May 7, 2021. On winning her seat in Glasgow, Nicola Sturgeon, said early results indicated that her party was on course to win its fourth straight election in Scotland but that the final outcome would not emerge until Saturday evening. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to the media after Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer won the Hartlepool by-election, at Hartlepool Marina, in Hartlepool, north east England, Friday, May 7, 2021. Britain's governing Conservative Party made further inroads in the north of England on Friday, winning a by-election in the post-industrial town of Hartlepool for a parliamentary seat that the main opposition Labour Party had held since its creation in 1974. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Votes are counted for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections at the Emirates Arena,in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday May 8, 2021. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Ballots are counted for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections in Aberdeen, Scotland, Friday May 7, 2021. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

General view of the Tower Bridge, through a window of the City Hall, in London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. Millions of people across Britain have voted on Thursday, in local elections, the biggest set of votes since the 2019 general election. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

General view of the Tower Bridge, against the backdrop of the skyline of the financial district of Canary Wharf, in London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. Millions of people across Britain have voted on Thursday, in local elections, the biggest set of votes since the 2019 general election. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Labour's Sadiq Khan speaks after he was reelected and declared as the next Mayor of London at City Hall, in London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks to the media next to a large inflatable of him, after Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer won the Hartlepool by-election, at Hartlepool Marina, in Hartlepool, north east England, Friday, May 7, 2021. Britain's governing Conservative Party made further inroads in the north of England on Friday, winning a by-election in the post-industrial town of Hartlepool for a parliamentary seat that the main opposition Labour Party had held since its creation in 1974. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Votes are counted for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections at the Emirates Arena,in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday May 8, 2021. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Votes are sorted to be counted for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections at the Emirates Arena,in Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday May 8, 2021. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Mayoral candidate Count Binface poses after the result declaration at City Hall, in London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. Labour's Sadiq Khan was reelected mayor of London. Millions of people across Britain have voted on Thursday, in local elections, the biggest set of votes since the 2019 general election. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Mayoral candidate Count Binface poses after the result declaration at City Hall, in London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. Labour's Sadiq Khan was reelected mayor of London. Millions of people across Britain have voted on Thursday, in local elections, the biggest set of votes since the 2019 general election. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Labour's Sadiq Khan is at City Hall, in London, for the declaration for the next Mayor of London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. Khan was reelected mayor of London. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer leaves his home in London, following the declaration that the Labour Party has lost the Hartlepool parliamentary election, Friday May 7, 2021. Britain's governing Conservative Party has won the Hartlepool election, dealing a blow to the Labour Party, with other by-election results still to be declared. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)

Labour's Sadiq Khan speaks after he was reelected and declared as the next Mayor of London at City Hall, in London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

The financial district of London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. On what was dubbed Super Thursday, around 50 million voters were eligible to take part in scores of elections in the UK, some of which had been postponed a year because of the pandemic that has left the U.K. with Europe’s largest coronavirus death toll. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Labour's Sadiq Khan, right, is hugged by one of his daughters after he was reelected and declared as the next Mayor of London at City Hall, in London, Saturday, May 8, 2021. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)