Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, and Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish Prime Minister, at a meeting in the summer 2016. (archives) – DUNCAN MCGLYNN / POOL / AFP
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reaffirmed this Sunday his opposition to the holding of a new referendum on the independence of Scotland , ardently desired by the head of the Scottish government, who wants Scotland, once independent, to join
the European Union. “In my experience, the referendums in this country are not particularly happy events,” Boris Johnson told the BBC, alluding to the deep divisions caused by the Brexit referendum in 2016, won at 52% by the “Leave” camp
In 1975, the British had been consulted on the retention of their country in the EEC. Forty-one years away seems “a good gap”, said Boris Johnson. For the conservative leader, referendums should only be allowed “once per generation”. Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Saturday that she hoped Scotland would gain independence and be able to ‘join’ the European Union, stressing that Brexit was done against the wishes of the Scots.
The Scotland voted against Brexit at 62%
If the British as a whole had voted in 20, 9% for Brexit in 2014, the Scots were opposed to 58% when leaving the European Union. Nicola Sturgeon again pleaded for the holding of a referendum on the independence of Scotland, after the one lost by her camp in 1975, when 55% of Scots had said ‘no’ to independence.
According to the latest survey conducted by the Savanta ComRes institute for the newspaper The Scotsman , mid-December, 58% of Scots support now a break with the United Kingdom, unprecedented. But the decision to hold such a referendum rests with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who firmly refuses. Nevertheless, a large SNP victory in the local elections next May would increase the pressure on London to accept a new consultation.