Scottish chief to provide route map to new independence vote

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is ready to ship an announcement on Tuesday setting out how she believes a brand new referendum on Scottish independence might be held.

Scottish voters rejected independence in a 2014 referendum, with 55 per cent of voters saying they wished to stay a part of the United Kingdom. But Sturgeon, who leads the Scottish National Party and the devolved authorities in Scotland, has stated it’s time to revisit the matter due to modifications led to by Brexit. She needs a brand new vote on independence earlier than the tip of 2023.

That would want a inexperienced gentle from the UK-wide authorities of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who opposes a brand new referendum and has stated the difficulty was settled within the 2014 vote.

Sturgeon maintains that her social gathering’s success in native elections final 12 months provides her a mandate for a contemporary referendum. While the Scottish National Party didn’t win total management within the Scottish Parliament, the election of a report variety of Scottish Green lawmakers means there’s a majority for a brand new independence vote.

“Westminster rule over Scotland cannot be based on anything other than a consented, voluntary partnership,” Sturgeon stated forward of delivering a speech to Scottish Parliament.

“It is time to give people the democratic choice they have voted for, and then with independence to build a more prosperous, fairer country in a true partnership of equals between Scotland and our friends in the rest of the UK,” she added.

Opposition events have criticised Sturgeon for her “obsession” with holding a brand new independence vote and say she ought to as an alternative be centered on extra sensible issues resembling tackling the hovering price of dwelling.

Like Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland has its personal parliament and devolved authorities and makes its personal insurance policies on public well being, schooling and different issues. But the UK-wide authorities in London controls issues resembling defence and financial coverage.