Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT “does not believe there should be a second referendum” on Scottish independence, Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokeswoman said today, following reports that she is making contingency plans for another vote.
Speculation is mounting that Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will declare her intention to hold a rerun of the September 2014 vote, as a poll published today revealed rising support for independence ahead of Britain’s departure from the European Union.
“We don’t believe that there should be a second referendum. There has been a referendum, it was clear, decisive, it was legal, and both sides agreed to abide by the results of that referendum,” May’s spokesman told journalists today.
Downing Street was responding to a report that it had told Scottish newspaper The Courier it was holding “contingency” talks to deal with a referendum announcement.
Scotland rejected independence by 55% in 2014, but 20 months later it voted to remain in the European Union by 62%, sparking calls for a fresh vote.
The battle over Scotland’s constitutional future is now almost an even split, according to a new poll released Wednesday.
Support has risen to 49%, excluding undecided voters, with 51% in favour of staying in the British union, a BMG poll for the Herald newspaper said.
The poll was conducted after May confirmed her intention to take Britain out of the European single market.
‘Game on’
Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has said a second independence referendum is now “highly likely”, and allies have suggested it could be as early as 2018.
Former SNP leader Alex Salmond tweeted a picture of the Herald’s front page story on the poll, saying: “Game on…”
The SNP said the latest poll showed the independence debate is now “a virtual dead heat”.
“If the Tories continue with their blind pursuit of a hard Brexit, ignoring the clear view of an overwhelming majority of people in Scotland, then more and more people will see independence as the option delivering certainty and stability,” said SNP chair Derek Mackay.
Conducted among 1,067 voters aged over 16, the poll asked: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” with 43% saying “Yes” and 45% saying “No”. The remainder were undecided or would not say.
It represents a three-point swing towards independence from a similar BMG/Herald poll conducted in December.
However, the survey also found 56% of Scots do not want another independence referendum before the conclusion of Brexit negotiations, expected in 2019.
The Scottish parliament, in a symbolic motion, voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to reject Britain’s march towards the EU exit, with the semi-autonomous government warning Scotland would not be “humiliated”.
The Scottish government said the vote – backed by nearly three quarters of Scottish lawmakers from across the political spectrum – is one of the most important in the parliament’s 18-year history.
May warned today that an independent Scotland “would not be in the European Union.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I’m currently in Shanghai. Schools are closed and online learning begins tomorrow. Hearing rumours that sitting in in restaurants is being suspended. There’s a minimal upsurge in apartment buildings being closed and residents being quarantined. All issues are protective. All in all, it’s grand.
Well let’s just hope this isn’t a strong variant & if it dies steady that we have learned and will protect the old and the vulnerable. If you feel any symptoms take a test and if you have covid you isolate.
With so many vaccinated it will bearly even affect people that much hopefully.
So yea hopefully we’ve learned over the last 2 years, no need for restrictions, lockdowns, masks!!!!
Think peoples appetite for all that again won’t be great!
Fecking covid and rus-putin+ GREAT DECADE SO FAR!
I’m hoping our own current surge, is just the side effect of the lastest lifting of restrictions, and not the new varient that I’ve been reading abiut the last couple of days. (Funny how the Journal has not reported on it when Cork Beo was reporting on what Luke O’Neill said about it yesterday) Regardless, If people can maybe keep their wits about them, keeping in mind the likes of hand hygeine and watch what direction they are coughing in when the could not be arsed covering they’re mouths, or maybe voluntarily put on the mask, we can nip this surge in the bud. None of us want to go back where we were the last couple years.
The bats have come home to roost.
have your say