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Scottish nationalists vow independence vote after election win

Published 05/08/2021, 03:47 AM
Updated 05/09/2021, 02:32 AM
© Reuters. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives at Glasgow counting centre in the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain May 7, 2021. Jeff J Mitchell/Pool via REUTERS

© Reuters. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon arrives at Glasgow counting centre in the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain May 7, 2021. Jeff J Mitchell/Pool via REUTERS

By Russell Cheyne

GLASGOW, Scotland (Reuters) -Pro-independence parties won a majority in Scotland's parliament on Saturday, paving the way to a high-stakes political, legal and constitutional battle with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the future of the United Kingdom.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the result meant she would push ahead with plans for a second independence referendum once the COVID-19 pandemic was over, adding that it would be absurd and outrageous if Johnson were to try to ignore the democratic will of the people.

"There is simply no democratic justification whatsoever for Boris Johnson, or indeed for anyone else, seeking to block the right of the people of Scotland to choose our own future," Sturgeon said.

"It is the will of the country," she added after her Scottish National Party (SNP) was returned for a fourth consecutive term in office.

The British government argues Johnson must give approval for any referendum and he has repeatedly made clear he would refuse. He has said it would be irresponsible to hold one now, pointing out that Scots had backed staying in the United Kingdom in a "once in a generation" poll in 2014.

The election outcome is likely to be a bitter clash between the Scottish government in Edinburgh and Johnson's United Kingdom-wide administration in London, with Scotland's 314-year union with England and Wales at stake.

The nationalists argue that they have democratic authority on their side; the British government say the law is with them. It is likely the final decision on a referendum will be settled in the courts.

'IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECKLESS'

"I think a referendum in the current context is irresponsible and reckless," Johnson told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Alister Jack, the UK government's Scotland minister, said dealing with the coronavirus crisis and the vaccine rollout should be the priority.

"We must not allow ourselves to be distracted - COVID recovery must be the sole priority of Scotland’s two governments," he said.

The SNP had been hopeful of winning an outright majority which would have strengthened their call for a secession vote but they looked set to fall one seat short of the 65 required in the 129-seat Scottish parliament, partly because of an electoral system that helps smaller parties.

Pro-union supporters argue that the SNP's failure to get a majority has made it easier for Johnson to rebut their argument that they have a mandate for a referendum.

However, the Scottish Greens, who have promised to support a referendum, picked up eight seats, meaning overall there will be a comfortable pro-independence majority in the Scottish assembly.

Scottish politics has been diverging from other parts of the United Kingdom for some time, but Scots remain divided over holding another independence plebiscite.

However, Britain's exit from the European Union - opposed by a majority of Scots - as well as a perception that Sturgeon's government has handled the COVID-19 crisis well, along with antipathy to Johnson's Conservative government in London, have all bolstered support for the independence movement.

Scots voted by 55%-45% in 2014 to remain part of the United Kingdom, and polls suggest a second referendum would be too close to call.

© Reuters. Election staff members count votes for the Scottish Parliamentary election at a counting centre in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, May 8, 2021. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Sturgeon said her first task was dealing with the pandemic and the SNP has indicated that a referendum is unlikely until 2023. But she said any legal challenge by Johnson's government to a vote would show a total disregard for Scottish democracy.

"The absurdity and outrageous nature of a Westminster government potentially going to court to overturn Scottish democracy, I can't think of a more colourful argument for Scottish independence than that myself," she said.

Latest comments

If even a referendum is not allowed, how can you call it democracy?Respect the Human right of Scots.
pound falling on monday
Pay off time for British bastards for ruining the world peace.
Its time Scotland is free and independent and Ireland is reunited with the North.
Agree. Scotland should decide for Scotland
I thought England stopped their world dominance years ago.
Who will pay $42 trillion pound loot of India’s wealth??
curious how you come up with the 42 trillion?
he didn't, it was a study done and published in the Columbia University press which came with a number of 45 trillion usd of loot from india
They will break away if they feel their id, values dont align with the Brits
Paying attention Texas? Florida? If your gonna do it, do it fast before the 20-30 illegals start voting, and you become Blue forever.
maybe they should take care of their own homelessness problem first. who would want to stay in such s h!t hole states
danny, homelessness problem are in every major city, you should visit New Orleans.
 Where did you get that from?  CNN?
snp wants to repeat referendums until it gets a proper result, good strategy
"The only people who can decide the future of Scotland are the Scottish people, and no Westminster politician can or should stand in the way of that,"
they decided in 2014
 That was before brexit and Scotland voted to remain in the EU. Pay attention.
Tom so you would rather be dictated to by the bureaucrats within the EU and u call that freedom. wakeup man and look at the direction the unelected bureaucrats want to take the remains states. Scots would end up with less control in their destination at a higher costs. you need to look at EU politics and their vision before you can make an educated choice. the EU want to be a federal state whith tax powers and indirectly you'll loose your sovereignty. I'm all for a free scotland and in control of their destiny but joining the EU is not the way.
The trouble with all socialists is that they love to soend other peoples money. The SNP benefit from huge amounts from England. An independant Scotland will then want huge amounts from the EU. Good lick with that.
Scotland has the oil
Venezuala has lots of oil, too.
I didn't expect this
10 years from now may well look like Brexit was actually Little England's secession from both the EU and the rest of the UK.
if the jocks want independence from the union and to be in Europe they are thicker than I thought
Scots want to leave the UKs control and join the EU to allow a whole bunch more bureaucrats from all over Europe to decide what’s best for Scotland???
leave the UK most sensible thing to do
Scotland should be independent
Brexit Scotland 😂😂
Sexit.
free Scotland!
Scotland should be an independent state
 And base the economy on whisky sales? Or the second most popular tipple in Scotland, heroin?
Danny. you need to take a deeper look at the EU politics. Their long term view is to control of the remaining states by unelected highly paid bureaucrats with big expenses. joining the euro currency is only the first step. they are now debating common tax over the remainers. being a EU state member is not scotish freedom.
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