Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney Thursday sent a note to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon telling her he would be stepping down the same day she leaves her post. Sturgeon announced last month that she was resigning as Scottish National Party (SNP) leader and subsequently also as chief executive, effective sometime later in March.
By Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University - A shift of opinion registered in one poll should always be regarded with caution. But when a number of polls all record much the same shift, it is highly likely that something has changed.
Crucial week for Scotland's intention of holding a second independence referendum, when the UK Supreme Court begins on Tuesday hearing arguments in the dispute with London
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon insists on working on forming a pro-independence majority and is holding talks with the Green Party for a coalition. Sturgeon, the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), said she had held discussions with the Greens, who have promised to support a second independence referendum, at her official residence earlier this week.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is traveling on Thursday to Scotland to confront growing support for another independence referendum. Ahead of his visit, Johnson said that Scotland, as a part of the UK, gained access to a coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, and they are being administered by their shared armed forces, who are creating 80 new vaccine centers in Scotland.
Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon said an independence referendum that could wrench apart the United Kingdom after Brexit should take place in the earlier part of the devolved parliament’s next term, which begins next year.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson triggered anger Monday in Scotland when he called the decision to grant Scotland governing powers ”a disaster,” and said he did not support granting the nation any additional powers. The reported comments come as surveys show rising support for a second independence referendum.
Support for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom has risen to a record high of 58%, an Ipsos Mori poll released on Wednesday suggested. The poll of 1,045 adults aged over 16 across Scotland, conducted from Oct 2 to 9, saw only 42% back staying in the union once undecided voters were stripped out.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Monday that Britain would be weaker if the union that binds its four nations were broken - his latest rejection of a growing push for Scottish independence.
Scotland is already taking steps to hold a referendum on independence and believes it is a matter of when rather than if the country separates from the rest of Britain, Scotland's First Minister said on Monday.