The second Scottish independence referendum will be held next year. By the end of 2023, UK lawmakers will have to face big problems.
Next year, Scotland’s government will start formal preparations for a second referendum on independence from the UK, which it wants to hold before the end of 2023 according to what the country’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Monday. But Boris Johnson disagrees with the referendum.
He recalled the first referendum in 2014 and the outcome of the votes in that year, which rejected independence. In fact, government officials have expressed doubts that a second referendum can be held within the next two years.
According to Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish government will be launching a powerful campaign next year in support of a second referendum. She said she will do everything necessary to pave the way for a second referendum to be held before the end of 2023.
There is a deep disagreement coming from the UK, but Sturgeon has said that if Johnson believes in respecting democracy he must agree with the second referendum.
In a democracy, this would be a sign of respect for a nation’s request.
Numerous meetings have been held in parliament, attended by all pro-independence Scottish officials from the Green Party. However, holding meetings under the circumstances without paying attention to the restrictions has also caused extreme protests. According to Douglas Ross, “It’s too shameful to talk about the new Omicron variant, and take part in a meeting coincidently.”
Most Scottish ministers disagree with Sturgeon’s actions and the separation of Scotland from the UK.
Scottish Independence
Scottish independence is a significant national issue in which Brexit plays an important role, paving the way for a referendum as a majority of Scots voted to remain in the EU. Nicola Sturgeon is the driving force behind Scottish independence aided by Brexit.
Nevertheless, in 2014, the anti-independence campaign claimed that Scotland will be better placed by remaining a part of the UK. As a result, many disagreements continue to split Scotland, thus hampering the country’s independence from the UK.
The Scottish economy after a possible separation remains a huge concern for government officials, alongside other facts such as identity and the destiny of a nation.
In Scotland’s second referendum, identity is a key matter to which officials must give significant attention. To understand the importance of identity, it is important to understand that a substantial minority feel more strongly about their Scottish identity than their UK identity as a whole; although an appreciable sense of Britishness still remains.
But given that a lyndyref#2 is likely to come down to a choice of remaining in a union with the rest of the UK or applying to rejoin the EU, it seems legitimate to compare how much the Scots identify with Europe.
After Brexit, a survey to check the people’s choice of identity was held to assess their interests towards Britain, the UK and Scotland. A 7-point scale was used to evaluate the outcome. Grade 1 was for people with a weaker sense of belonging, and grade 7 was for people who had a strong sense of belonging.
Not surprisingly, Scottish respondents reported feeling noticeably less British and more European than did English or Welsh respondents (Northern Ireland residents were not surveyed).
Most felt substantially more Scottish (Scots scored 5.7 on average – very high considering that 7 is the highest score possible) than British (The average sense of Britishness for Scots was only 4.54).
The Scottish Referendum and British Identity
The professors of Stanford University believe that a vote for Scotland’s independence can create a crisis for the British identity.
On September 18, Scotland is going to hold an election in which there will be a decision about its separation from Britain.
The formal
Of course, if Scotland separates from the UK, it is going to face a range of problems in many fields, such as education, defence, agriculture, healthcare, etc.
It will have a significant impact on Britain too. According to Crombez,”Great Britain would lose more of its prominent status in world politics. England will have to deal with an identity crisis, having lost its empire after World War II.”
“Extracting Scotland from the Great Britain political equation would likely give more power to conservative British voters, as Scotland tends to vote on the left side,” Crombez added.
If Scottish voters choose to remain in the United Kingdom, the British government has said that Scotland will not get another chance at independence.
Brexit and Scottish Independence
In fact, Scotland’s independence is important. Sooner or later it must achieve it. It must be able to have a powerful domination in its affairs. A domination in which there is no dependence on Britain. As a matter of fact, this independence will help Scotland eliminate all democratic rules.
It can decide its own destiny without any interference. Brexit slows down Scotland’s progress and does now allow it to make independent decisions.
In the next campaign for independence, the Brexit vote will become an important symbol for the argument that: We voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU and we are being dragged out against our will by England (and Wales).
Scotland will certainly be a winner in this election, because the group that agreed with the referendum in 2014 is more determined to agree now, and those who cast a negative vote for Britain to remain in the EU know that they have to choose the best option.
Although Scotland’s independence has many advantages, it also has a negative side.
Scotland wants to be a democratic country which can make its own decisions. It wants to be an independent country with a good economy. Nevertheless, the problems that it may have to face if there is a separation from the UK cannot be neglected.
Indeed, its financial budget will be reduced and it will have to tolerate difficult conditions. Britain is Scotland’s biggest opponent and the latter will be unable to use the pound sterling after separation. This means that Scotland must review its transactions with British banks.
The positive impact would be that Scotland will be able to control its natural resources and better supervise its affairs.
But this separation is going to have good consequences too. Because after 2014 there was a great reduction in the price of each barrel of oil.
Xenophobia
Xenophobia is a strong fear or dislike of people from other countries
It has an expansive meaning in English. According to this word, accepting strangers from other nations and cultures is impossible.
After Brexit, the number of immigrants is increasing in Britain and there is more discrimination.
Statistics show that ethnic minorities are growing and racism is a problem that is growing with it.
The Black community is suffering the most with a higher rate of discrimination against it. As a matter of fact, xenophobia prevents them from being employed, receiving a good education, and improving their livelihood in England.
Of course, in an independent Scotland, this fact will become more expansive than before and Scotland may find new supporters among minority groups.
