Johnson confirms opposition to a new independence referendum in Scotland

Johnson confirms opposition to a new independence referendum in Scotland

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has again rejected a new independence referendum called by Scotland after Brexit. The head of government on the BBC radio station on Sunday said the referendum did not have “particularly unified power” and therefore should only be held “once in every generation”. In 2014, a referendum was held in Scotland in favor of remaining in the United Kingdom.

Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to schedule a new independence referendum after the final Brexit is completed at the end of the year. She wants Scotland to be able to rejoin the European Union after leaving Britain. A survey by the Savita Comeco Institute in mid-December saw 58 per cent of Scots favoring leaving Britain.

In his experience, referendums are not “particularly joyful events”, Johnson said. The Brexit referendum ended with only 52 percent of the yes votes when Britain was out of the European Union. The last British vote on membership of the European Economic Community was first held in 1975. Johnson said a generation gap is a “good gap” for the referendum.

Supporters of a new independence referendum in Scotland argue that the 2014 referendum did not expect the outcome of the Brexit referendum. In addition, 62% of Scots voted “no” in the referendum on Brexit.

The decision on a referendum in Scotland rests with Johnson. The pressure may increase if Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party (SNP) wins a major regional election in May.

AFP