About: Scotland referendum

Scotland must wait a generation for new independence vote, says Johnson

Another Scottish independence referendum should not take place for a generation, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday (3 January), as Scotland's leader renewed calls for a fresh vote in the wake of Brexit.

Pressure mounts on Britain to update its UN climate target

Scotland and British businesses are piling pressure on the UK government to set an ambitious 2030 climate target ahead of a summit co-hosted by Britain and the UN on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

Scotland votes to keep EU flag flying

Scottish lawmakers on Wednesday (29 January) voted to keep the European Union flag flying outside the devolved parliament in Edinburgh after Brexit.

Scottish leader Sturgeon demands a post-Brexit independence referendum

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will on Thursday (19 December) demand the right to hold a new independence referendum, challenging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to keep the United Kingdom together as he grapples with its coming split from the European Union.

Sturgeon blames Brexit chaos as she proposes second Scottish independence poll

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon set out her timetable for a second independence referendum by May 2021 on Wednesday (24 April), blaming Brexit chaos for having “exposed  a deep democratic deficit at the heart of how Scotland is governed”.

Minister: Scots still looking for ‘least worst’ Brexit option

“The best option for us is remaining in the European Union,” Scotland’s Culture and External Affairs minister Fiona Hyslop tells EURACTIV. Faced with the reality of Brexit, the Scottish government is “trying to identify the least-worst option,” she explains.

Spain ‘not worried’ about united Ireland joining the EU

Spain will not raise any objections to a statement at the European Council summit tomorrow (29 April) recognising that a united Ireland would be an EU member state, according to an EU diplomatic source with knowledge of Spain's position in the Brexit negotiations.

50 MPs, MEPs support fast-track EU membership for independent Scotland

A group of 50 European politicians have put their weight behind Scottish independence in an open letter calling for a “swift, smooth, and orderly” transition to full EU membership.

Scotland demands powers to bring in more migrants

As British PM Theresa May presses ahead with a hard Brexit and a retreat from the single market, Scotland said on Monday (3 April) that its distinct demographic trends require powers over immigration to support public services and the economy.

Spain eases opposition to an independent Scotland in EU

Spain, at loggerheads with Britain over Gibraltar, appears to be easing its opposition to an independent Scotland in the European Union, saying it would not block such a move at least initially.

Scots are tired of never-ending referendums

Scottish people are tired of referendums, writes MEP Ian Duncan, who argues that the conditions for a Scottish independence vote have not been met.

Poll: Euroscepticism in Scotland at record level

Support for Scottish independence is at its highest ever but it might not be the best time for Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to hold a new referendum, a survey by ScotCen's Scottish Social Attitudes said on Wednesday (15 March).

EU ‘well prepared’ as May prepares to press Brexit trigger

After heated debate and a delay in the upper House of Lords, the bill could win final approval by both Houses by Monday (13 March.)

Irish EU minister: Post-Brexit North-South hard border ‘not acceptable’

Ireland's EU minister has told EURACTIV.com that any post-Brexit border between Northern Ireland and the Republic should allow status quo in terms of movement of goods or people, and a 'hard border' would be "unacceptable."

Rajoy warns against talks with Scotland on EU membership

Spain has opposed any talks with the Scottish government over a possible future EU membership bid for fear of fueling secessionist forces in Catalonia in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum.

Scotland seeks ‘immediate discussions’ to stay in EU

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed yesterday (26 June) to protect Scotland against the "devastating" fallout of Brexit, as new polls found over half of Scots now want independence, which she may put to a second referendum.

UKIP MEP: Vote me out of my job

UK Independence Party MEP Patrick O’Flynn is a poacher-turned-gamekeeper, a former political journalist for the Daily Express, turned MEP for UKIP.

Cameron to face Scottish nationalist leader over fate of UK

Prime Minister David Cameron travels to Scotland on Friday (15 May) to face Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon, whose triumph at last week's election put Britain's unity in jeopardy just nine months after a referendum saved it.

Scottish nationalists to seek full fiscal autonomy from UK

Scottish nationalists will try to wrestle full control over taxation and spending from the British government if they win kingmaker position in the 7 May general election, the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) said, hoping to harness a surge in support ahead of a UK-wide election to win more powers.

Could the Scottish vote awaken European democracy from its slumber?

The Scottish referendum has had the benefit to set the stage for a broader discussion on the way governance functions in the UK and the EU at large, writes David Kitching.

After independence day: The road ahead for an independent Scotland

Scotland is not the first sub-territorial entity to seek independence and will not be the last but this particular independence movement matters, writes Dr Michael J. Geary.

Scottish independence would open doors for development

A yes vote would increase Scotland’s aid budget to £1bn, presenting the new donor with complex spending challenges, writes James Mackie.

Independent Scotland would have to reapply to EU, NATO, officials say

Scotland would have to reapply for membership of both the European Union and NATO if Scots vote to leave the United Kingdom in a referendum this month, officials said on Monday (8 September).