Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched her campaign for a second independence referendum on Tuesday, arguing that Scotland would be financially better off outside the UK. Ms Sturgeon, who leads the Scottish National Party and the decentralized government in Scotland, said it was time to reconsider leaving Scotland for the UK. “After everything that has happened – Brexit, COVID, Boris Johnson – it is time to formulate a different and better vision,” he said as he published the first of a series of government documents outlining his arguments for independence. Scotland rejected independence in a 2014 referendum, with 55 per cent of voters saying they wanted to remain part of the UK. Ms Sterzon said she wanted a new independence vote before the end of 2023. That would need the green light from the government of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who opposes a new referendum, and said the issue was settled in a vote. 2014. But Ms Sturgeon says the landscape has changed since then, largely due to Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, a move opposed by the majority of people in Scotland. “If we knew in 2014 everything we know now about the course that the United Kingdom would have taken, then I have no doubt that Scotland would have voted yes then,” Sturgeon told the BBC. Ms Sturgeon said that when she was re-elected Prime Minister last year, she was “clearly committed to giving the people of Scotland the choice to become an independent country”. He said on Tuesday that the Scottish Parliament had an “unquestionable democratic mandate” to vote. Ms Sterzon’s party leads a majority in the Scottish Parliament for independence, along with the Scottish Green Party. He urged Mr Johnson’s government to issue a special mandate to allow a legally binding independence referendum. She is ready to discuss the terms with Mr Johnson, he added. Mr. Johnson’s office again rejected the offer. “The position of the United Kingdom Government is that now is not the time to talk about another referendum,” said Johnson’s spokesman. “We are confident that the people of Scotland want and expect their governments to work together to focus on issues such as global costly challenges, such as the war in Europe and issues of importance to their families and communities.” was added. Like Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland has its own parliament and decentralized government and formulates its own public health, education and other policies. But the London government across the UK controls issues such as defense and fiscal policy. Ms Sturgeon revealed the first of the Scottish Government’s newspapers, “Building a New Scotland”, which argues that neighboring, independent European countries the size of Scotland are richer and fairer. He argued that decision-making in London limited Scotland’s potential, adding: “We have a prime minister without democratic authority in Scotland and without moral authority anywhere in the United Kingdom.” Opposition parties have blamed Ms Sterzon for focusing on independence and neglecting other issues, including recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. They say another referendum will be divisive and counterproductive to what Scotland needs. “The distraction and the interruption of another bitter debate on the referendum is the last thing Scotland needs right now,” said Donald Cameron, a Scottish Conservative. The Morning and Afternoon Newsletters are compiled by Globe editors, giving you a brief overview of the day’s most important headlines. Register today.
