Scotland’s “once in a lifetime” vote on leaving the UK may be back on the table—little more than a decade after the last one.
First Minister and leader of the separatist Scottish National Party, John Swinney, says a second independence vote could take place as soon as 2028, describing this possibility as “perfectly conceivable.”
His efforts to force a vote will be supported by the Scottish Greens, who say the country’s future should be “in Scotland’s hands.”
Labour is opposed to a second referendum, although its unpopularity will likely boost the chances of those campaigning for change.
Nigel Farage’s Reform has also argued that “the Scottish people have no appetite for the rancour and division of another referendum any time soon,” adding:
Realistic nationalists agree that now is not the time because Scotland has not been responsibly prepared for separation by the SNP. Moreover, purist nationalists have rumbled the SNP false independence narrative within the EU and question why they would ever swap the “yoke” of London for Brussels.
Recent reports have suggested a notable number of SNP voters are switching over to Reform.
Scottish Tory Stephen Kerr warned that so long as the SNP remains in power, it will always agitate for independence, describing this as the “sole purpose” of the party. Harriet Cross MP added that the issue was more important for Scotland’s Left “than [the country’s] healthcare, education, our economy, your job.”
A second referendum would have to be signed off by the UK government. Scottish Conservative MP Andrew Bowie said on Sunday, “I don’t trust weak [UK Prime Minister] Keir Starmer to say no to John Swinney.”
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
