Fifty-Two per cent of the people residing in Scotland want independence from the UK, according to a poll by Lord Michael Ashcroft, a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. However, this is not the first time such numbers have appeared. In 2014, an independence referendum recorded a 45 per cent vote asking for Scotland to leave the UK.
What Has Changed?
In one word, Brexit.
In 2016, a referendum was held across the UK on whether it should leave or remain in the European Union. While the majority of voters (52%) across the UK voted to leave, the majority in Scotland (62%) and Northern Ireland (56%) voted to remain in the EU.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister said while announcing plans for an independence referendum: “With all of our assets and talents, Scotland should be a thriving and driving force within Europe. Instead, we face being forced to the margins – sidelined within the UK that is, itself, increasingly sidelined on the international stage. Independence, by contrast, would allow us to protect our place in Europe.”
Sturgeon, a member of the Scottish pro-independence party, Scottish National Party (SNP) became First Minister in 2014 and has continued to push for more powers to be devolved to the Scottish parliament.
A Brief Timeline of Events
- 1707 -In what became known as the Treaty of Union, the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland merged to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
- 1997 – Following calls for devolution of power from the UK parliament, a referendum was held, which supported the devolution of power and formation of the Scottish parliament.
- 1999 – After being solely governed by the UK parliament since 1707, the Scottish parliament was established.
- 2014 – An Independence referendum was held across Scotland on whether Scotland should remain as part of the UK or not. 55% voted to remain.
- 2016 – EU “Brexit” referendum on whether the UK should remain as part of the European Union or not. 52% voted to remain.
- 2016 – First Minister Sturgeon announced a second Scotland Independence referendum is inevitable.
- 2017 – Sturgeon, with support from the Sottish Parliament, formally requests that the UK government grant Scotland approval to hold a new independence referendum by spring 2019.
- 2019 – Sturgeon outlines Scottish independence referendum plan to be held by May 2021 if the UK eventually leaves the EU.
What Now?
The uncertainty over the UK’s fate re: Brexit spills over into uncertainty of its union with Scotland. What is clear, however, is that Scotland does not want to leave the EU and there are reports suggesting that Sturgeon might negotiate to keep Scotland in the EU even when the UK leaves.
An independence referendum for Scotland is unlikely to happen anytime soon as the UK government needs to give its approval; UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has saidhe would refuse to do so.
First Minister Sturgeon is not deterred, however, following the publication of the poll, she tweeted:
The deadline for the UK to leave the EU is 31 October 2019, barring an extension. The uncertainty concerning the aftermath of the UK’s divorce from the EU leaves many displeased.
