Question
Is Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP right to push through an Independence Referendum Bill?
Was the last vote for Scotish independence not sufficent?
Answer
To consider Nicola Sturgeon (the SNP) as ‘right’ in wanting to call a second referendum for Scottish independence, is a concept too open to subjective interpretation. It would be more appropriate to review the situation as objectively as possible, and in doing so, determine whether a second referendum can potentially be justified. It is also important to note that the reason the second referendum has been officially suggested is due to the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
The biggest potential validation for a second referendum is attributed to the voting disparity between Scotland and the rest of the UK concerning the EU referendum. With 62% of Scottish voters voting to remain a clear divide was formed between Scotland and the rest of the UK. In the UK accordingly nearly every constituency had a voting majority of leave. Given this position, it has been argued that the differing opinions of the jurisdictions provide a reasonable opportunity to review Scotland’s position as part of the UK.
At present this seems to be the only strong justification for pushing a second referendum; the other issues presented during the first Scottish referendum have been democratically decided by the Scottish people as not being sufficient to warrant a separation, evidenced by the original result to remain.
It could be submitted that as Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP were figureheads of the original leave campaign for Scottish independence, they have continued to believe that an independent Scotland would be in a better position without the rest of the UK. An expansive suggestion could include that much like the fear-mongering tactics considered by many to have been employed by both sides of the EU referendum campaign, the SNP are using the current confusion related to the future of the UK as a scapegoat to push an older agenda.
Considering the question concerns an area of politics rife with conflicting opinions and information, it is difficult to completely ascertain whether or not the second referendum is justified. Ultimately, the answer to this question lies with the hopefully informed opinion of the voting populous.
