With vows to stage a wildcat referendum, Nicola Sturgeon substantially escalates her rhetoric on Scottish independence today.
The SNP leader is anticipated to outline her plans to hold another election in October of next year in a statement to Holyrood, with or without consent from Westminster.
But Ms. Sturgeon has been informed that any vote would be unconstitutional unless Boris Johnson grants so-called “Section 30” powers, which he has categorically refused to do.
The First Minister has come under fire for allegedly prioritizing her “obsession” with the breakup of the UK over addressing the rising cost of living.
Both sides referred to the 2014 referendum as “once in a generation,” and the result was a 55-54 vote in favor of maintaining the union.
According to polls, there is little interest in holding another election, with a stable, if tiny, majority opposed to independence.
But Ms. Sturgeon will assert once more today that she has the authority to rerun the election because of the SNP’s victory in the Holyrood elections.
Ms. Sturgeon stated that the “democratic will must be honoured” prior to her remarks today.
‘Bluntly, the UK Government is in no position to lecture any other country about the need to uphold democratic principles if it is determined to try to subvert democracy at home,’ she continued.
Continued attempts to undermine the will of the people must – and will – fail because we live in a democracy where election results still matter.
“Either the United Kingdom is a partnership based on consent, or it is not a partnership deserving of the term.” Westminster’s control over Scotland cannot be founded on anything other than a freely agreed-upon alliance.
The phrase “once in a generation” is meant to suggest that there shouldn’t be a referendum for 25 years, according to ministers.
Ms. Sturgeon released the first in a series of position papers earlier this month in an effort to win over the Scottish people.
She was had to admit, however, that if Scotland joined the EU single market as she expects, “regulatory and customs” issues would arise at the border with England.
The revelation increases the possibility of battling with Brussels about goods checks a la Northern Ireland.
Ms. Sturgeon insisted that the challenges could be overcome and that Scotland’s access to the EU market was more important.
The White Paper, Why Not Scotland? : Wealthier, Happier, Fairer contrasts Scotland and the UK to other European countries and explains why the SNP and Greens believe independence would be better for the country.
However, it omitted to address important problems including Scotland’s currency, its financial situation given the substantial deficit, pensions, benefits, defense policy, and ambitions to re-join the EU. Ms. Sturgeon has made hints that those subjects will be covered in upcoming documents.
The First Minister’s obsessive campaign for yet another divisive independence referendum, according to Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Donald Cameron, is the height of self-indulgence and recklessness.
People want the SNP Government to concentrate on the issues that truly concern them in the final week before the summer break rather than squander time and resources on a phony poll, according to a statement from the SNP.
‘At this time, ministers should give the global cost of living issue, NHS repairs, and recovering our economy from the epidemic top priority.
It is shameful that Nicola Sturgeon would put all that on hold in order to push for yet another unwelcome and perhaps even unconstitutional referendum.
Anas Sarwar, the leader of the Scottish Labor Party, charged that the First Minister was “trying to pull Scotland back to the politics of the past instead of dealing with the difficulties of the present.”
He claimed that Ms. Sturgeon was pushing ahead with an unwelcome referendum while ignoring the needy calls of the public for assistance with the rising cost of living.
One in eight Scots are languishing on waiting lists as our NHS struggles under the strain, and public transportation is in disarray, according to Mr. Sarwar. People across Scotland are currently battling to put food on the table as their costs are spiraling out of control.
“Instead of addressing these concerns, we have two governments feeding off one another and attempting to rip communities apart for political benefit,” the statement reads.
The leader of the Lib Dems, Alex Cole-Hamilton, called the effort to split up the UK “out of touch, obsessive, and desperate.”
“Nicola Sturgeon is ignoring everyone who is concerned about paying the bills or the sharp increase of Covid infections,” he continued.
It’s a slap in the face for medical personnel, the thousands of patients on NHS waiting lines, and everyone who thought the First Minister when she declared that putting education first.
“Dividing the UK is not the answer to these issues. Her concern with splintering the UK is a significant contributor to the issue.