© Associated Press
– Scottish Prime Minister Nicholas Sturgeon and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2019.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicholas Sturgeon told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that work on a second independence referendum could be summed up as “not if, but when”.
In their first post-election conversation in Scotland – won by its Scottish National Party, but by a narrow majority (64 out of 65 seats needed) – the two discussed the possibility of a new poll for secession from Britain, after the previous one 7 years ago.
Proponents of staying in the UK won (55%) in the referendum at the time. However, even after the ensuing Brexit referendum, Sturgeon insisted that circumstances had changed – many Scots had chosen not to secede precisely because of the value of the EU.
Johnson has repeatedly rejected the idea of a new referendum, saying it would be “reckless and irresponsible” in a pandemic. However, the BBC notesthat the British cabinet seems to be signaling that the right to a new referendum may not be challenged in court.
According to a spokeswoman for the Scottish National Party, Sturgeon said in a telephone conversation with Johnson that the plan was for the people of Scotland to choose their future “after the crisis is over” with the coronavirus, although the focus is on pandemic recovery.
Sturgeon later said a bill could indeed be tabled for a referendum next spring as part of plans to do so in the first half of her term. Sturgeon used the topic as part of the campaign for the regional elections. In the May 6th vote, she increased her seats in parliament by one. Although there is no majority to push for a new project, it is expected to receive support from other parties, such as the Greens.
Sturgeon’s comments on the issue, which she raised after the announcement of the election results, show that the independence debate will continue to dominate Scottish politics and call into question the future of Britain, write “Politico”. The publication notes that Sturgeon probably missed out on a majority due to a tactical vote by supporters of the alliance with the United Kingdom.
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