Scotland Seeking Second Referendum on Independence Amid Brexit
As the price for cutting immigration, May has said Britain will leave Europe’s single market - a move that the Scottish National Party (SNP) in power in Edinburgh has warned would be highly damaging to jobs and growth. “I’m disgusted”, she said.
Therefore, she said she would ask the Scottish parliament next week to request a so-called Section 30 order from Westminster - a legal clause that would grant permission for Scotland to hold a new independence referendum.
The prime minister’s office said in a statement on Monday that it had been “working closely” with Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, “recognizing the many areas of common ground” on issues like fighting terrorism and protecting workers’ rights.
Sources close to May said she would not allow a referendum until several months after Britain’s European Union exit, the Telegraph said.
And with the Labour party giving up on opposition, let alone government, we face being at the mercy of the Tories for up to twenty years.
Margaritis Schinas, EU Commission spokesman said the “Barroso doctrine” as expressed by former President Jose Manuel Barroso, that “if one part of an EU country became an independent state it would have to apply for EU membership” continued to apply.
Speaking earlier on Monday the SNP leader said the “conditions have been met” to make a formal application for the referendum, arguing Scotland’s interests had been ignored by the Conservative Government ahead of the imminent Brexit negotiations.
“The language of partnership is gone”, Sturgeon told a news conference.
Downing Street in response said a Scotland independence vote would be “divisive”.
Will Theresa May grant a new referendum?
The First Minister tore into the PM, saying she has “yet to be elected by anyone”.
Jacqueline Minor, the European Commission’s head of representation in the United Kingdom, told the BBC last month that Scotland is already well-aligned with EU membership requirements, putting the country in a stronger position than other nations vying to join.
BMG Research interviewed 1,009 Scots aged 16 and over between 23-27 February 23. One poll by Ipsos-Mori published earlier this month found that 50% said they would support independence.
When “don’t knows” were ruled out, the results were 52% to 48% against independence.
A similar poll before that speech showed 45.5% were Yes supporters and 54.5% backed No. The anti-independence campaign won 55/45 in September 2014, in what nationalists had called a “once in a generation” ballot.
Brexit negotiations are set to begin as early as this week, depending on when May formally notifies the European Union of Britain’s desire to leave. The UK’s First Sea Lord said that the UK’s defences would be damaged, because bases would have to be divided.