The Scottish National Party leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has challenged Scots to determine whether they are prepared to be dictated to by the England-centric Conservative Party or vote for Scottish independence in a second referendum. Following Alex Salmond's unsuccessful attempt at gaining scotland independence from the United Kingdom, the SNP promised not to push for a second referendum unless political or economic circumstances altered.
A change in circumstances
Nicola Sturgeon believes that, following Brexit and the U.K. supreme court's decision to reject her argument that stated Holyrood should be consulted about triggering Article 50, circumstances have changed enough to raise the prospect of a snap referendum.
In a scorching criticism of Westminster's promises that Scotland would be treated as an equal member of the European Union during the Yes campaign, Sturgeon said that today's ruling was a clear indication that Westminster's promises of union equality were worthless.
In a scathing attack on Westminster, Sturgeon stated: 'This raises fundamental issues beyond Brexit. Are the people of Scotland prepared to have our futures dictated to a rightwing Westminster government? The Conservative Party have one MP here. Or should the people of Scotland take the future of our nation into our own hands? Every day, it is becoming increasingly clearer that this is a decision that Scotland must make'.
No consultation required on international affairs
The Northern Irish and Welsh governments had asked for their assemblies to be consulted before article 50 was triggered. The court ruled that the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments didn't have to be consulted on international issues. Sturgeon, who was expecting the outcome, said: 'Despite the supreme court's judgement that the UK government doesn't have to consult devolved governments, there remains a clear obligation to do so'.
Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland, told Westminster: 'If Theresa May and her government intend to stick to their word that Scotland would be an equal partner in process, now is the time for her to show it'.
