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LAST UPDATE | 8 May 2021
NICOLA STURGEON HAS insisted that Westminster has no right to block a second vote on Scottish independence as she claimed an “emphatic victory” in the Holyrood election – despite the SNP failing to secure an overall majority.
Ms Sturgeon insisted that her chances of winning an overall majority, which declined dramatically after the SNP failed to capture Aberdeenshire West from the Tories, had always been a “long shot”.
With the SNP having made some gains in constituencies – such as former Westminster leader Angus Robertson taking Edinburgh Central – and with the party’s Kaukab Stewart becoming the first woman of colour to be elected as an MSP, Ms Sturgeon declared she was “thrilled” with the results.
The SNP leader insisted: “We have won more constituency seats than we did in the last election, we have won a higher share of the vote in the constituency ballot than in 2016, and actually we have won more votes and a higher share of the vote than any party in the history of devolution.
“By any standard this is a historic achievement, a quite extraordinary achievement for the SNP – our vote share is up, the vote share of the other main parties is down.
“So the SNP has won this election emphatically, the message we took to the people has been endorsed, and I now intend to get back to work to deliver on all of what we put to the Scottish people.”
The SNP has pledged to hold a second independence referendum, with Ms Sturgeon having already said she wants this vote to be held before the end of 2023.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has however insisted it would be “irresponsible and reckless” to have such a ballot as Britain emerges from the coronavirus crisis.
He told the Daily Telegraph his impression was that Scottish voters had “moved away from the idea of a referendum”.
And when asked what he would do if Ms Sturgeon attempted to hold one without a Section 30 order from Westminster granting permission, Mr Johnson insisted there was “no case now for such a thing”.
But with Holyrood now certain to have a pro-independence majority, made up of SNP and Green MSPs, Ms Sturgeon said Westminster must not stand in the way of such a ballot.
She stated: “It looks as though it is beyond any doubt that there will be a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament and by any normal standard of democracy that majority should have the commitments it made to the people of Scotland honoured.
“So to any Westminster politician that tries to stand in the way of that, I say two things: firstly, you are not picking a fight with the SNP you are picking a fight with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people.
“And secondly, you will not succeed. The only people who can decide the future of Scotland are the Scottish people and no Westminster politician can or should stand in the way of that.”
Meanwhile, Lorna Slater, the Scottish Greens co-leader, told BBC Scotland: “Certainly we can see that with the Scottish Greens we clearly have a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament, and that is something we are very excited about.
“We think it is a clear mandate to at least go back to the Scottish people and ask the question, to have an actual conversation about what kind of country we want to be.”
Her comments came as the regional list seats started to be declared, with the Scottish Greens picking up a seat in Central Scotland for the first time ever.
Earlier on in the day, the Tories had held the key seats of both Aberdeenshire West and Galloway and West Dumfries.
And while Ms Sturgeon’s party made other gains in the constituency votes at Holyrood on Friday, their success in gaining Ayr and East Lothian, from the Tories and Labour respectively, will see them lose MSPs from the South of Scotland regional list.
The coronavirus pandemic meant traditional overnight counts were abandoned after Thursday’s Scottish Parliament election, with counting instead taking place on Friday and Saturday.
Ms Sturgeon, who comfortably defeated Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to claim Glasgow Southside, said afterwards her initial focus would be “to get back to work to steer the country through the crisis and into recovery”.
She added: “That remains the case. But once the crisis is over, and if there is a majority in the parliament for an independence referendum, people should have the right to choose our future. Scotland’s future should always be in Scotland’s hands.”
Meanwhile, former first minister Alex Salmond conceded it is unlikely his new Alba Party will take seats in this election.
“I’ve obviously looked at the ballot boxes at the count and they’ve given us some very good ones – Aberdeenshire had over 10% in a couple of the ballot boxes,” he said.
“But in some of the big ballot boxes, I think we ended up over 3% in Aberdeenshire East, the same in Banff and Buchan, a bit more actually, which I’m pleased with because these are our best results in Scotland.
“But that doesn’t get you a seat. You need 4.5%, maybe 5%, to get a seat. But nonetheless it’s a creditable performance for a party which has just celebrated its sixth birthday – in other words, we are six weeks old.”
The former first minister insisted: “I think Alba’s future is secure.”
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C’mon Scotland
@Hugh McCann: Why when all they are doing is creating a disaster thats going to leave the majority of people very unhappy if the leave because there will be 3 warring sides:
People who want to stay in the Union
People who want full independence
People who want independence to join the EU
How can they ever square a circle when there will always be 2 sides how will be unhappy with the outcome who will be the majority of the population.
They are selling a lie to people who want to be fully independent if they join the EU and if they dont join the EU what happens to the people who only want to leave the Union to join the EU.
It will be a disaster no matter what happens and god knows what trouble it will lead to in the future.
@On the right side: That same logic can be used anywhere. Con/Lab/LibDem, 2 sides unhappy there! Hell, look at us here in Ireland! FF/FG/Lab/SF/PBP/etc., by the very nature of democracy you can’t please everybody.
@On the right side:
The financial ties will need to be untangled
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnett_formula
@On the right side:
This will not be a good look on the international stage
@sean o’dhubhghaill: You cant even compare it to a general election this is separating 2 countries that cant be reversed, you have an election every 5 years and the new government can undo what the previous governments did.
@On the right side: Sounds like Brexit…
@On the right side: there’s no mandate from any group that’s looking for complete autonomy. Everyone looking for independence knows that means looking to rejoin the EU too.
@On the right side: Warring is a bit much…….. Cant please everyone but if they do vote for independence the majority wanted to stay in the EU. 62% voted to remain. And Id say that many bought into the Farage spin and have seen the negative effects of brexit so that could end up being more that want EU membership. Hard to argue with approx 2 thirds of the country if they vote for independence and the same happens again. More clear cut than the 52/48 brexit vote…… Thats democracy baby.
@Pat: A lot of business will have to leave if they have more customer south of the border and if they are doing business with the British government, even worse the Shetland Islands have already voted to leave Scotland.
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18710705.shetland-looks-independence-scotland/
@On the right side: The slow death knell of the union jack.
@Brendan McCarron: In Brexit there was only 2 groups in Scotland there is 3 groups being Remain, Full independence and leave to join the EU. Also if Shetland and Orkney can find a way they want to leave Scotland.
@On the right side:
Exactly. Plus in thevrecentbdebates pre election the SNP could not say what currency they would use. 14 years in Government but no plan. Are they serious,many say not.
@On the right side: Just had a look at your Twitter, the conservatives aren’t conservative enough. Racism disguised as nationalism. Delightful chap.
@Paul Hedderman: The turnout for the Brexit vote was only 67% but the turnout for Independence was over 84%.
Also the Brexit question was about the UK leaving the EU not Scotland, if the question was Scotland leaving the UK to join the EU there would be a different result, people dont want to leave the UK to join the EU they want to be independent and then you have people who would want to be in the EU but would want to stay part of the UK rather than being independent.
@Denis Ryan: Im a racist because I believe in proper conservatism…lol You obviously do not know what conservatism is.
@Paul Hedderman:
Leave won for a number of reasons .. Maastricht, Lisbon, the future proposed development of the EU.
Be happy this is your future
@Paul Hedderman:
The future of the EU. Enjoy
@On the right side: Can i borrow your rag to wipe me hoop?
@On the right side: No you are a racist because you are a racist. No kneeling for George Floyd unless you kneel for Lee Rigby. Dont want boats showing up at Dover yet these displaced people are the results of your country’s legal wars and foreign policies over the last 70 years. Dont want ex service men brought to justice over the murder of unarmed civilians. The list goes on and on. If the cap fits, wear it.
@On the right side: why don’t you go home, why don’t go hommmeeee the union is over why don’t you go home
@Denis Ryan: illegal* hell of a mistake to make.
@On the right side: Yeah, sure. Creating a phony third option doesn’t dilute this from a basic, binary choice referendum – like Brexit was. Do you honestly think there are people in Scotland who think full independence is not only possible, but ultimately the best option?
@On the right side: In Brexit it there weren’t only two groups that’s ridiculous. You accept that different people want different things in Scotland but can’t admit that with Brexit there was remain and then a plethora of different sides within Leave. Leave didn’t know what they wanted as a group, there were different faction who wanted different things and even prominent leaders said Brexit would look one way and then ended up delivering something else entirely.
@Pat: the smallest of digging leads me to have absolutely zero confidence in the publication you quote here. Dig deeper.
@On the right side: oh shock, a Tory who things the Tories are too leftist doesn’t want to see an independent Scotland!
Pssssst Scotland doesn’t want to be off on their own, they want independence so they can fovern themselves and rejoin the EU.
@On the right side: well by definition it would take a majority vote for a referendum to pass so it wouldn’t leave “the majority unhappy”. It’s time for the Union to break up. Westminster never cared about the people of Scotland or Northern Ireland for that matter. Its an outdated concept.
@On the right side: In Brexit there were only two groups?? Are joking? Where have you been for the last 5 years? There was:
The Remainers
The “leave but stay in the customs union”
The hard Brexiters
The “I don’t really understand what Brexit implies, I just want to stop free movement for immigrants whilst still allowing free movement for ex-pats”
It is now time for Scotland to take its place amongst the free independent nations of the world.
The people have voted and democracy like justice, must be served.
But Boris doesn’t want it to happen on his watch.
Brave hearts are required.
( excuse the pun)
@Muckser Maher: Learn some history, it was the Scottish who wanted the 2 Kingdoms of Scotland and England to unite under 1 crown and politically, it started under the Scottish King James the 6th from the House of Stuart when he inherited the English crown and became King James the 1st of England as well, it continued even after civil wars when finally it happened under Queen Anne from the House of Stuart, so it would be the Kingdom of England getting their independence from the Kingdom of Scotland.
@On the right side: what century are we living in today? You talk some manure
@John kane: They are the facts, sorry if the truth hurts your feelings.
@On the right side: it wasn’t a democracy then. It is now.
@On the right side: That was 400 years ago!! Can we move into the 21st century, please?
@On the right side:
The Monarchy decided who, what, when, where from 843ac in Scotland till very recently.
2021 the People of Scotland (free to vote & Democrats ) will decide now.
New history in its infancy.
Forget the old stuff
@Peter McGlynn: It was democracy in 2014 when scotland voted to remain part of the UK something the SNP cant seen to accept
@John kane: thats a 24 carat “I don’t like being ambushed by the facts and I can’t take it” response. Hilarious.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: you can’t be an Irishman with a response like that?
@On the right side: selected facts you mean. Here’s a fact for you, can Scotland independantly decide it can stay in the EU after it massively voted against Brexit? No. Therefore its not independent, therefore it is voting for independence, therefore your history lesson is null and void. Independance doesn’t mean who took over who, it’s a state of being. You have completely missed the point.
@On the right side: I’ll teach you some history about that flag on your profile pic.
Colonialism, slavery, resource raping, deportation, opium wars, genocide, gerrymandering, martial law, famine… sound familiar
@On the right side: em you’re not entirely correct. James 6th of Scotland became James 1 of England in 1606 but the Act of Union took place only in 1707 when both parliaments ratified the Act. Scotland first in 1706 and England the following year.
@Brendan McCarron:
Scottish participants in the British Empire
Shocking.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Scottish_people_of_the_British_Empire
@Brendan McCarron:
Dont forget the Irish who participated in the Empire.
For example O’Dwyer…
@Pat: Might as well draw comparison with Dutch, French, Polish collaborators in Nazi occupied Europe having started world war 2.
@john malonoy: You might remember a little thing called Brexit which completely changed the entire picture, the fact that Scotland voted to remain in the EU and was dragged out anyway by the English vote means that another referendum is necessary IMO.
@Keith O’Reilly: “Dragged out by the English”? Did you selectively choose to ignore how the Welsh voted for Brexit too?
@HonestGrump: But NI didn’t, two out of four nations were forced to leave against their will. The Irish and Scottish were dragged out by the English and Welsh, happy now?
@Diarmuid Hunt: Aren’t you aware the UK is a democracy? I didn’t vote for MeHole but I’m stuck with him. Does that mean me and all the others around Ireland who didn’t vote for him should have a referendum to break up the Republic? Cop on like.
@HonestGrump: think you need to cop on yourself. The Scottish decision to stay was overruled by the majority uk decision to leave. That is part of why independence is being considered. So decisions made in Scotland by the Scottish can be followed
England votes for independence with Brexit and then gets surprised when Scotland and Northern Ireland become interested in independence.
@Dean: Did you not know Wales voted for Brexit too or do you have a selective memory perhaps?
The little englanders can’t manage without the forward thinking Scottish people.
@Peter Murphy: Lol….I think the little Englanders will do just fine especially now in Scotland free speech around the dinner table is illegal or maybe little Englanders should follow Scotlands lead with the failing education system and the highest drug related deaths in the world?
@On the right side: Time is up, the UK is crumbling. Happy days.
@On the right side: ‘Free speech around the dinner table is illegal.’ Explain, please?
@sean o’dhubhghaill:
Reading this might help
https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,msps-to-vote-on-hate-crime-legislation-after-debate-delayed
@sean o’dhubhghaill:
Then theres the missing money & the police investigation
@On the right side: For an English person, your grasp of the language is pretty poor.
@Seosamh: Why is it happy days??
Mirror image of 100 years ago. If Boris ignores Scottish Nationalists then they could be faced with a stronger form of nationalism and we know where that leads. Don’t have to spell it out.
@Joe Johnson:
She’d be a lot better waiting for her referendum till after the consequences of Brexit have sank in and the people understand they’d be better off back in the EU.
@Philip Cullen: Scotland voted to remain in the EU. They don’t need convincing on that front.
Will they rename “Little Britain” to “Tiny Britain” if Scotland go independent?
@Sean Walsh:
Great Britain is the name of the Island which contains Scotland Wales and England.
What will Ireland be in the new Empire?
@Sean Walsh:
These are the people who will decide Irelands future. Happy?
@Sean Walsh: They will name it little England
@Pat: Who named it Great Britain? The island was Britannia before someone tacked the ‘Great’ on so why is it so unimaginable that we may start calling it ‘Tiny Britain’?
@Pat: Irish people will decide Ireland’s future. We do not have to follow EU regulations or be part of the EU, we choose to because it makes sense. Spouting this $#!+ even after watching the effects of the UK leaving is crazy.
All the recent polls show that support for independence has dropped. I don’t really believe she wants a second independence referendum anytime soon as she knows it would be defeated but in the interim it’s a useful stick to beat Boris with and will help boost support for the SNP by painting the Scottish people as being cheated out of independence by a hostile Enlish government. The ‘Braveheart’ strategy! Classic politics… https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/worst-polling-for-yes-since-2019-as-snp-support-continues-to-drop-poll-shows-3218102?amp
@William Tallon: Scotland was cheated out of the E. U. and told lies and nothing will change that.
@Peter Murphy: Imagine that. Politicians telling lies. Well colour me shocked. Presumably the Scottish people are all gullible and will believe any old rubbish an English politician or the SNP tell them. ‘Innocents abroad’ one and all! Somehow or other I think not. And I hardly think they’re easily cheated either…
@William Tallon: The English people themselves were cheated never mind the Scottish. People know politicians lie, they just don’t always find out until after the fact. If you think everyone with a vote is as informed as you are (I’m assuming you’re well informed though you have not shown it yet) then you are sadly wrong.
By all means take the independence. People gloating at the break up of the Union fail to grasp the reality. Most of the UK want Scotland to do as they please. It costs each taxpayer in England NI and Wales 2.5k each to keep it as it is. Those desperate to get one over on the UK will chortle but, in actuality it means nothing.
Come on Scotland,… rejoin the EU next….
@Eddie Michael: Don’t be so sure. Independence and unionism may be en route to becoming entrenched positions in Scottish politics. To pursue this now may not be the best bet. What’s Scotland to do with half a population who want to be in the UK? Sounds familiar doesn’t it. I think Sturgeon needs to build a stronger case if she wants to persuade enough people.
People on this Forum don’t really understand Scotland.
As Billy Connolly once called Glasgow Belfast light.
Like the North Scotland could kick of big time if independence or reunification become a reality.
@The Grand Nagus: in what way “big time”. Please explain.
@Andrew Barber:
As in strife unrest
A militant response by the unionist communities of both the North and Scotland.
They are interlinked though the Orange Order and various militant groups.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Alex Salmond controversy ultimately cost the SNP the majority. Except that voters didn’t defect to Alba as Salmond hoped they might, but to the Greens. Either way, it’ll make the case for the SNP more difficult.
Go for it Nicola
Wahoo
Well Boris is so sure that people have moved away from an independence referendum he should have nothing to worry about!
Voters think that the SNP are the best party to govern Scotland. But voters will in my opinion still vote no to independence.
have your say