Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon promised on Tuesday to set before the local elections in May the terms and date of a second referendum on Scotland’s independence, despite the British government opposing the idea.
“Before the end of this legislature, we will publish a draft law that will define the conditions and the timetable for a referendum on independence, as well as the question that will be asked to the population during this referendum,” announced Sturgeon, during the speech to mark the reopening of the Scottish Parliament.
The leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) added that she will campaign in the elections for the autonomous assembly in 2021 for the independence of Scotland, which is part of the United Kingdom, together with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The issue of independence was the referendum in 2014, when Scots voted 55% to stay in the UK, and a repeat needs to be authorized by London.
Nicola Sturgeon believes that the ‘Brexit’ process has changed public opinion because Scotland voted overwhelmingly (62%) in 2016 against leaving the European Union (EU), formalized on 31 January.
According to the head of the Scottish Government, the challenges posed by the covid-19 pandemic are compounded “completely and unnecessarily” by the stubbornness of the Government of Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, in refusing to prolong post-Brexit negotiations with the EU.
Sturgeon saw popularity rise during the pandemic, unlike Johnson, who was criticized for managing the crisis, and hopes to capitalize on that support and good results in the December national parliamentary elections to force London to accept a new public consultation.
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