Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says a second referendum on independence is “on the table” following Brexit vote
The Scottish National Party government said that the majority UK decision to leave the EU justified another vote on Scots independence, as per Bloomberg. Results of Thursday’s EU referendum showed Scotland voted to remain in the 28-member bloc, while England and Wales opted to leave, setting up another showdown between London and Edinburgh. In Belfast, Irish republicans Sinn Fein called for a referendum on Irish reunification.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a second referendum on independence is “on the table” less than two years since the last one. The SNP leader said she wanted to make it clear to European leaders that Scotland has voted to stay.
“Scotland faces the prospect of being taken out of the EU against our will. I regard that as democratically unacceptable,” she said. “There’s no doubt that yesterday’s result represents a significant and material change in the circumstances in which Scotland voted against independence in 2014.”
The Brexit fallout leaves Prime Minister David Cameron – and his successor once he steps down by October – not only dealing with a divorce from the 28-member EU, but also potentially fighting to keep the UK marriage intact after more than three centuries.
“We’re seeing the end of the union,” said Tim Ash, a London-based strategist at Nomura International Plc. “There is no way to stop the momentum now towards Scots independence, and second time around given the pro-EU majority in Scotland they will vote to leave."
“At the beginning of this, Nicola Sturgeon suggested to Cameron to put a four-country lock on this so all four had to vote to leave,” he said on BBC Television. “Maybe he’s thinking it wasn’t such a ridiculous idea now.”
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Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a second referendum on independence is “on the table” less than two years since the last one. The SNP leader said she wanted to make it clear to European leaders that Scotland has voted to stay.
“Scotland faces the prospect of being taken out of the EU against our will. I regard that as democratically unacceptable,” she said. “There’s no doubt that yesterday’s result represents a significant and material change in the circumstances in which Scotland voted against independence in 2014.”
The Brexit fallout leaves Prime Minister David Cameron – and his successor once he steps down by October – not only dealing with a divorce from the 28-member EU, but also potentially fighting to keep the UK marriage intact after more than three centuries.
“We’re seeing the end of the union,” said Tim Ash, a London-based strategist at Nomura International Plc. “There is no way to stop the momentum now towards Scots independence, and second time around given the pro-EU majority in Scotland they will vote to leave."
“At the beginning of this, Nicola Sturgeon suggested to Cameron to put a four-country lock on this so all four had to vote to leave,” he said on BBC Television. “Maybe he’s thinking it wasn’t such a ridiculous idea now.”
Related stories:
Brexit fallout shock: PM resigns, investors to “lose a lot of money”
Brexit voting closes – early poll results in
