(VOVworld) - The Scottish government on Friday formally asked British Prime Minister Theresa May for a second referendum on independence, deepening a crisis sparked by the Brexit vote.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP)

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP), said that the people of Scotland must have the right to choose their own future - in short, to exercise their right of self determination. The Scottish Parliament voted by 69 votes to 59 on Tuesday for another referendum, but it cannot hold a legally-binding vote without London's approval. Scotland rejected independence by 55% in 2014, but voted by 62% to remain in the European Union in 2016 sparking another constitutional crisis as it was outvoted by England and Wales. May has insisted "now is not the time" for another referendum, but she now faces a battle on two fronts as she seeks to negotiate a good deal from Brexit and tame nationalist sentiment in Scotland.