LONDON (AP) – Scotland’s leader said on Sunday she intended to hold a “legal referendum” on UK independence if she won the Scottish elections scheduled for May.
This move would put Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon on a constitutional collision course with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who opposes another secession vote.
Scotland voted to stay in the UK by a margin of 55% to 45% in a 2014 referendum which was presented as a unique event in generation. A new binding referendum requires the approval of the UK government and Johnson insists he will say no.
Sturgeon argues that Brexit has transformed the situation by dragging Scotland from the European Union against its will. A narrow majority of UK voters chose to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but a large majority in Scotland voted to stay.
A number of recent opinion polls suggest that a small majority now support Scotland becoming an independent country. Sturgeon says his Scottish national party will run in the May election “to seek the authority of the Scottish people” for a new referendum.
“If the SNP won the Scottish election in a few months with the proposal to give this option to the people, then what Democrat could prevent it? Boris Johnson is clearly afraid of the verdict and the will of the Scottish people.” Sturgeon told the BBC.
The SNP says if it wins a majority in the Scottish Parliament in May, it will pass legislation to allow a new referendum once the coronavirus pandemic is over. If the Johnson administration refused to agree, the issue would probably end up in court.
“I want to do a legal referendum, so I will seek the authority of the Scottish people in May and if they give me that authority that is what I intend to do,” Sturgeon said.
Opposition parties in Scotland say Sturgeon should focus on defeating the coronavirus and supporting the economy, rather than planning independence.