Most voters in Scotland want a new referendum on the British nation’s independence, reflecting the loopholes created by Brexit and increasing pressure on Boris Johnson to accept such a vote.
According to a survey released on Sunday by Sunday Times, 50% of Scottish voters are in favor of holding an independence referendum. Leaving undecided, 52% of respondents support independence.
The published poll also indicates that 51% of voters in Northern Ireland want a referendum on Ireland’s reunification, showing another crack in the unity of the state.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is also the leader of the SNP separatists, has been pleading for a referendum on Scottish independence for months, after losing from her camp in 2014 when 55% of Scots said “no” to independence .
She specifically calls for Brexit, which happened against the will of most Scots, as an argument to separate itself from the United Kingdom. He hopes that once independent, Scotland can eventually join the European Union.
While the British voted 51.9% for Brexit in 2016, Scots 62% were opposed to leaving the European Union.
But the decision to hold a new referendum rests with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who vehemently denies.
“Boris Johnson is clearly afraid of the judgment of the Scottish people”, condemned Nicola Sturgeon, interviewed Sunday on the BBC.
A strong SNP victory in the local elections next May will put further pressure on London to accept a new consultation. Britain’s election expert John Curtis has predicted the SNP will lead by a large margin and win seven seats from 2016.
The SNP has unveiled a ‘roadmap for the referendum’ indicating these elections will be followed by a ‘legal referendum’ after the pandemic if there is a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament. The party says it will “strongly” oppose any legal challenge by the British government.
Asked about London’s refusal after the election and the possibility of holding an advisory referendum, Nicola Sturgeon said she wanted a “legal referendum”.
“The question is not about what I want or what Boris Johnson wants, it is about what the Scots want and there is more and more evidence that they want freedom,” he said. He told the BBC.