The Scottish Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that she wanted to organize an “advisory” referendum on the nation’s independence in October 2023, despite the failure of a previous consultation in 2014 and the refusal of the British government to authorize this vote.
“I can announce that the Scottish Government proposes that the independence referendum be held on October 19, 2023,” First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told local parliament.
To organize this referendum, Mrs. Sturgeon, leader of the independence party SNP, must obtain the agreement of the British government, which is firmly opposed to it.
The Scots had already been consulted on the subject in 2014 and had voted 55% to remain within the United Kingdom.
Building on this previous vote, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson argues that such a referendum can only happen “once in a generation”.
The SNP, however, believes that Brexit has been a game-changer, with Scots opposing it by 62%. The SNP’s aim is for Scotland to join the European Union as an independent state.
Nicola Sturgeon said she was ready to negotiate with Boris Johnson, but warned she would not allow “Scottish democracy to be a prisoner to Boris Johnson or any prime minister”.
Before this speech, Boris Johnson reiterated his commitment to the unity of the kingdom.
“We certainly think our plan for a stronger economy works better when the UK is united than when it is not,” the Conservative leader told British television on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G7 in Germany.
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