Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC he was convinced that an independence referendum could be held next year. From Tuesday, the UK’s highest court will consider whether such a referendum is possible without government permission in London.
British Prime Minister Liz Truss disagrees. Sturgeon sees the blockade across London as evidence that Scotland is part of a political system that disrespects Scottish democracy. Her nationalist party (SNP) scored a big victory in last year’s regional elections. She sees in this a clear mandate from the voter to hold a referendum.
Scotland has been part of the United Kingdom since 1707 and had its own parliament in 1998. However, all matters of union with Parliament remained in London. Next week, the court will hear the debate over whether the Scottish parliament has the power to legislate for an independence referendum. Sturgeon wants to hold a vote in October next year.
The last time Scotland held a referendum on secession from the United Kingdom was in 2014, when 55 per cent of voters voted against independence and 45 per cent in favour. The Scottish National Party, in its argument for a new general referendum, is referring to Brexit, among other things. The majority of Scotland’s population voted unsuccessfully in the 2016 referendum against the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union.
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