The state of Politics within the United Kingdom is one of uncertainty. The move towards ‘Brexit’ has put the United Kingdom in a transitional period and there is a real clamour for some stability and a general idea about how and when ‘Brexit’ will happen. It is certainly the priority for Theresa May. So, when Nicola Sturgeon wanted permission for a second Scottish independence referendum to take place before ‘Brexit’, it was expected that this would be denied.
Surprise, surprise
Today, Theresa May has said that “now is not the time” for a second Scottish independence Referendum to happen.
May believes that the primary focus of the United Kingdom should be on getting the best ‘Brexit’ deal possible and that the countries within this union “should be working together, not pulling apart.”
The Reaction
Obviously, Nicola Sturgeon has quickly responded to this setback by stating that this rejection is a “democratic outrage” and that “history may look back on today and see it as the day the fate of the union was sealed”. Alternatively, Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative Leader, has backed May’s stance towards this potential referendum by claiming that Sturgeon’s demand would be “conclusively” rejected.
The Consequences
While it has been made quite clear that a second Scottish independence referendum will not happen before ‘Brexit’, the possibility of a referendum after the United Kingdom has left the European Union is still on the table.
It may be the case that Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP, who have a majority in the Scottish Parliament, must be patient in achieving their goal of granting Scotland independence from the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, a lot can change in the next few years regarding both Scotland’s relationship with the United Kingdom and indeed the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union. The only thing we can be certain of is that Sturgeon’s latest clamour for a referendum creates more uncertainty and division within an already fragile union.
