Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told lawmakers in Edinburgh on Tuesday that she plans to hold a new referendum on Scottish independence. on October 19, 2023.
Sturgeon said the question to be asked will be the same as in Scotland’s first independence vote in 2014: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
Scottish voters rejected independence in 2014, with 55% saying they wanted to remain part of the UK.
But Sturgeon, who heads the Scottish National Party and the devolved government in Scotland, says it is time to revisit the issue because of the changes brought about by Britain’s departure from the European Union, a move opposed by most. The scots.
“My determination is to secure a process that allows the people of Scotland, whether yes, no or yet to be decided, to express their views in a legal and constitutional referendum so that the opinion of the majority can be established fairly and democratically. ”he said Tuesday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson‘s government across the UK opposes a new referendum and has repeatedly said the issue was resolved in 2014. Any vote of independence will not be legally binding without the approval of the Johnson administration.
Sturgeon said Scotland’s top law enforcement official will ask the UK Supreme Court on Tuesday whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate for an advisory referendum on independence.
He added that he would write to Johnson to inform him of his plans and make it clear that is “ready and willing” to negotiate the terms of how Scotland’s devolved government will have the power to hold a legal referendum.
Even if the referendum goes ahead, a majority vote will not make Scotland independent from the rest of the UK.
“For Scotland to become independent after a yes vote, the UK and Scottish parliaments would need to pass legislation,” Sturgeon stressed.
Sturgeon maintains that his party’s success in last year’s local elections gives him a mandate for a new referendum. While the Scottish National Party did not win overall control in the Scottish Parliament, the election of a record number of Scottish Green lawmakers means there is a majority for a new independence vote.
Sturgeon said that if there was no legal way for the Scottish government to hold a referendum, and if the Johnson government refused to grant permission for such a vote, she would fight in the next UK general election on the sole issue of independence. .
Opposition parties have criticized Sturgeon for his “obsession” with holding a new independence vote, saying he should focus instead on more practical matters, such as tackling rising costs of living.
Like Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland has its own parliament and devolved government and makes its own policies on public health, education and other matters. But the UK-wide government in London controls things like defense and tax policy.
(with information from AP)
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Source-www.infobae.com