Independence debate heats up as Scots go to vote
Print Edition
Scotland was voting yesterday in a parliamentary election that could trigger a showdown with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over a new independence referendum that might result in the break up of the United Kingdom.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who leads the pro-independence Scottish National Party, has described the election as the most important in the country鈥檚 history. She has vowed to demand the legal powers for a referendum on Scottish independence by the end of 2023 if her party wins a majority in the 129-seat devolved parliament in Edinburgh.
All the opinion polls suggest the SNP will win a fourth term in office, but they also indicate a recent dip in support for her party, suggesting that her chances of winning an outright majority are too close to call.
Johnson has already said he would turn down any request as he considers the matter settled in a 2014 referendum. But an emphatic SNP victory would pile pressure on him, analysts say.
Polls in Scotland opened at 6am GMT and will close at 9pm GMT.
Normally, the results are announced overnight with counting started soon after voting close. But the coronavirus pandemic means the votes will not be counted until the following morning. Just over a third of the results will be announced today and the remainder will be announced tomorrow.
鈥淧OLLS ARE NOW OPEN,鈥 Sturgeon said in a Tweet. 鈥淧lease cast #BothVotesSNP TODAY to secure experienced leadership and a better future for Scotland.鈥
In the 2014 referendum, Scots voted by 55-45 percent to remain in the more than 300-year-old union. However, Britain鈥檚 departure from the European Union against the wishes of most Scots, a perception that Sturgeon handled the COVID-19 crisis well, and antipathy to Johnson鈥檚 government in London have bolstered support for going it alone.
In yesterday鈥檚 election, Scotland is electing all the members of its semi-autonomous parliament, known as Holyrood, which has control over areas such as health care, education and some taxation.
The SNP has said it plans to pass legislation to hold a new referendum by the end of 2023.
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