Scotland Scottish Prime Minister: new referendum on independence in October 2023, preparations underway now

London

Scottish prime minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to hold a new referendum on Scottish independence on 19 October 2023.

“Independence allows us to build our country more prosperous, greener and fairer,” Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Tuesday afternoon.

The Scottish Government is now preparing a law under which a consultative referendum could be held. According to Sturgeon, it is very important that the vote is legal in every way.

That is why the Scottish Government Crown Advocate will be asking the Supreme Court on Tuesday whether the Scottish Parliament has a legal right to begin preparations for a consultative referendum.

If the referendum is not considered legal, it could, among other things, prevent Scotland from returning to the EU.

Sturgeon believes that Scotland would do better on its own than as part of the United Kingdom.

Earlier in June, the Scottish Government announced report Finland and a number of other prosperous European countries about the size of Scotland have been taken as benchmarks.

According to the report, small countries are beating the UK in areas such as wealth, poverty minimization and equality.

“Let this be a lesson and a source of inspiration.”

Scottish residents abandoned independence in a September 2014 event in the referendum 55-45 percent.

Sturgeon has argued in the past that a new vote was needed because the British government took Scotland out of the EU by a clear majority will.

Although Scotland has extensive autonomy, the holding of a new referendum will, in principle, require the British Government, in practice the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson permission. No permission is expected in the future, the British government is the minister in charge of Scotland Alister Jack said again last week to the BBC by.

It is likely that the British Government will take part in legal action if the Scottish Government makes preparations for the referendum.

Sturgeon the core goal of the Scottish National Party (SNP) is Scotland’s independence. The center-left party is by far the largest in the country, and Sturgeon has enjoyed widespread popularity.

The SNP has been in charge of government since 2007. Since the 2021 elections, the Greens in favor of independence have also served as auxiliary party.

Sturgeon reiterated on Tuesday that the Scottish Parliament has a clear mandate for Scottish voters to hold an independent referendum.

Although there are no credible challengers for Sturgeon and the SNP, the attitude of the people of Scotland towards independence is divided.

According to opinion polls, independence supporters and opponents camps are pretty strong. The leadership of hesitants is scarce.

In the beginning of June, STV in the survey percentages ranged from 50 to 50 percent. But if the share of hesitators is taken into account, opponents are still in a fine lead.

A little earlier in May made by You Gov. inquiry shows opponents of independence even greater leadership.

Brexit can increase support for independence from two sides.

Firstly, the difference with the EU has brought many new problems for Scotland as well, when the country came out of the EU internal market.

Moreover, back in 2014, many were able to vote against independence for fear of leading to forced separation from the EU. Now there is no more intimidation when the Brexis came despite Scottish opposition.

On the other hand, brexes can increase independence. Scotland’s independence and return to the EU will almost certainly bring the customs border between England and Scotland.

It has been learned from Northern Ireland that the border between the EU and a third country must always be drawn somewhere: although the land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland remained open, the border rose to the Irish Sea.