Sturgeon says Scots won’t be taken out of EU against their will

By Georgi Gotev | EURACTIV.com

18-04-2016

Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond [the SNP/Flickr]

Languages: Français

Scotland should have the right to hold a new referendum on independence if the country is takenout of the European Union “against our will”, the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) said on Sunday.

Nicola Sturgeon said her party’s manifesto before a local election next month would say there should be a referendum “if there is clear and sustained evidence that independence has
become the preferred option of a majority of the Scottish people”.

“Or if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will,” she added in a statement.

Britain is to hold a referendum on 23 June on whether to remain in, or leave, the 28-member EU bloc.

This is not the first time that Sturgeon raises the issue of the consequences of Brexit for Scotland. Last June, she called for the vote to require a “double majority” where England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would individually have to back “Brexit” for it to go ahead. However this idea was disregarded.

Brexit will lead to clamour for Scottish independence, says Sturgeon

If Scotland leaves the European Union because of an English vote in the United Kingdom’s referendum on EU membership, the backlash could result in another Scottish UK independence vote, Nicola Sturgeon said today (2 June).

SNM member Alyn Smith recently told EURACTIV France that a Brexit could lead Scotland to leave the United Kingdom.

“There is a very realistic possibility that the UK could vote to leave the European Union, but Scotland will almost certainly vote to stay. This would cause real anger in Scotland. For us, it would reopen the question of Scottish independence from the UK” he said.

Smith: ‘A Brexit would reopen the question of Scottish independence’

Alyn Smith warns that a Brexit could lead Scotland to leave the United Kingdom.  According to the MEP, an exit from the EU should only be considered if backed by a majority in all four nations of the UK.

 

Background

The September 2014 independence referendum, which saw Scots reject a breakaway by 55-45%, exposed scepticism about promises made by right-wing politicians like David Cameron, something the SNP has since capitalised on, surging in opinion polls.

Scotland votes to remain in the UK, 'devo max' underway

Scotland has voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, rejecting independence by about 55% to 45% in a poll that attracted a British record 84.59% turnout and is set to spur major constitutional change.

In the 2015 United Kingdom general election, the SNP finished third across the whole of the United Kingdom, in terms of the number of Westminster seats won.

David Cameron has rejected suggestions that the Scottish nationalists should be entitled to hold a second independence referendum during this parliament.

Under current UK law, the Scottish National party would need the permission of the UK parliament to stage a referendum and for it to be binding.

Languages: Français

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