19 December 2019

Financial Times: Sturgeon sets out case for new Scottish independence poll

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has set out what she called the “democratic case” for a second independence referendum, warning that London’s refusal would only fuel support for ending the three-century union with England. 

Ms Sturgeon sent Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, a new Scottish government paper claiming Scotland’s right to decide its constitutional future and setting out changes to UK law that would allow Edinburgh to hold another referendum on the issue. 

Mr Johnson said on Thursday he would not agree to a rerun of the 2014 independence plebiscite — billed a “once-in-a-generation” event — in which 55 per cent of voters in Scotland backed staying in the UK. 

“I feel that the [Scottish National party] should concentrate more on delivering on the domestic priorities of the people of Scotland and rather less on breaking up our United Kingdom,” Mr Johnson told the House of Commons on Thursday.

Ms Sturgeon said the UK’s looming exit from the EU marked a material change in circumstances and the SNP’s landslide victory in Scotland at last week’s general election made refusal by Mr Johnson and his Conservative party “unsustainable”. 

The Scottish parliament on Thursday approved by 68 votes to 54 legislation under which any future independence referendum could be held. The Scottish government paper reaffirmed Ms Sturgeon’s commitment only to hold a vote with Westminster’s approval. [...]

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