In recent years, there has been an increase in calls for Scotland to become independent from the UK. However, the British government has always refused to hold a second independence referendum. According to the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, on July 23, Britain's new Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during his meeting with Scottish First Minister John Swinny that holding another referendum on Scottish independence is “absolutely impossible.”
Bernam and Swinny held a 40-minute meeting in Glasgow on the 23rd. Bernam reiterated his commitment to empowering local authorities by devolving power to the British government. Bernam promised that during the process of devolution, he would not bypass the Scottish Government.
Speaking of Scotland's independence, Burnham urged Swinny to abandon the idea of promoting an independent referendum. A spokesman for the British Prime Ministry said, "Prime Minister Burnham has made it clear that it is impossible to hold another independence referendum, as this would distract us from developing our economy and helping families cope with living costs."
British Prime Minister Barnham and Scottish First Minister Swinny
Sweeney is the leader of the Scottish National Party, which has long supported Scotland's independence. In May this year, in the British local elections, the Scottish National Party obtained 58 seats out of 129 in the Scottish Parliament, maintaining its position as the largest party, but without achieving an absolute majority. Subsequently, after a vote by the Scottish Parliament, Sweeney was successfully re-elected as the Chief Secretary for Scotland.
In 2014, Scotland held a referendum on independence. At that time, approximately 55% of Scots voted to remain in the United Kingdom, so the referendum was not approved. However, after the UK decided to leave the EU, the Scottish government has been trying to promote a second referendum on independence. The reason is that Brexit has caused significant changes, and more than 60% of Scots oppose Brexit.
Sweeney believes that independence can help Scotland get rid of "political chaos and economic stagnation," and serve as a stepping stone for Scotland to become a member state of the European Union, leading to "greater security and prosperity."
According to a ruling by the British Supreme Court, the Scottish Government may not hold a second independent referendum without the approval of the British Parliament.
In recent years, due to the instability in British politics and the stagnation of economic development, there has been an increase in calls for independence in Scotland. According to the Scottish newspaper The National, a poll conducted in April this year showed that 50% of Scottish respondents were willing to vote in favor of independence, while 44% opposed it. The remaining respondents stated they were "uncertain."
