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Johnson, Scottish independence referendum a “once in a generation” vote; Sturgeon, “we'll be back soon”

Monday, January 4th 2021 - 05:00 UTC
Full article 2 comments
The prime minister said the gap between referendums on Europe - the first in 1975 and the second in 2016 - was “a good sort of gap”. The prime minister said the gap between referendums on Europe - the first in 1975 and the second in 2016 - was “a good sort of gap”.
On Hogmanay, Nicola Sturgeon said Europe should “keep a light on” as Scotland will be “back soon”. On Hogmanay, Nicola Sturgeon said Europe should “keep a light on” as Scotland will be “back soon”.

Boris Johnson has reiterated his position that a Scottish independence referendum should be a “once-in-a-generation” vote. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr program, the prime minister said the gap between referendums on Europe - the first in 1975 and the second in 2016 - was “a good sort of gap.”

However, Mr. Marr suggested that now “things had changed” for Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon wants to see an independent Scotland join the EU.

Andrew Marr asked the prime minister what a voter in Scotland should do if they decided that a second independence referendum was now something they wanted, and what were the “democratic tools” to now do that?

Mr Johnson replied by saying: “Referendums in my experience, direct experience, in this country are not particularly jolly events.

”They don't have a notably unifying force in the national mood, they should be only once-in-a-generation.“

Asked what the difference was between a referendum on EU membership being granted and one on Scottish independence being requested, he said: ”The difference is we had a referendum in 1975 and we then had another one in 2016.

“That seems to be about the right sort of gap.”

The 2014 referendum resulted in a 55.3% vote against Scotland going alone.

On Hogmanay, Nicola Sturgeon said Europe should “keep a light on” as Scotland will be “back soon”.

The first minister tweeted just after the Brexit transition period formally ended at 11:00 on 31 December 2020.

Scotland's trading and travel relationships with EU countries will now be governed by the agreement announced by the UK government on Christmas Eve.

Ms Sturgeon reiterated the SNP's call for an independent Scotland to join the EU.

Tweeting a picture of the words Europe and Scotland joined by a love heart, she wrote: “Scotland will be back soon, Europe. Keep the light on.”

SNP deputy leader Keith Brown said: “It may be a new year but it's the same old incoherent bluster from Boris Johnson. The prime minister pretends otherwise but he knows he can't keep on denying democracy.

”Even his American pal Donald Trump has learned that if you try to stand in the way of the democratic choice of a nation you get swept away.

“The people who will decide our future are the people of Scotland, not Boris Johnson and the Westminster Tories.”

Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair said it was “extremely difficult” to challenge the SNP on independence when the party was “virtually uncontested” in Scotland.

Categories: Politics, International.

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  • Livepeanuts

    Boris has a point, that was the agreement in the last Scottish referendum only a handful of years ago and Salmond and Sturgeon both the Scottish fish stood side by side advertising this to their electorate from 5 million people and in front of the elelctorate of the rest of the UK from about 60 million people.
    The 5 million tail should stop trying to wag the 60 million dog all the time, the little ones have come out of the EU with the rest of us so now let us get on with it and do some work, enough of referendums, we got the local elections and that is it for a long time please shut up after that for a few years.

    Jan 04th, 2021 - 03:12 pm 0
  • Skip

    The UK is more than just England and “little ones”. If isn't a collaboration amongst the four nations then really what use is it?

    If the UK really wants to modernise and strengthen its governance now that it has devolved some responsibilities, it should be looking at a slightly more federal structure instead of a quasi-unitary state and look at abolishing the defunct House of Lords and replacing it with a body more balanced it representing the four nations.

    Jan 05th, 2021 - 03:29 am 0
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