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Scotland launched a new campaign to break with the UK: ‘It’s time to talk about independence’

The head of the Scottish Home Rule Government, Nicola Sturgeon, launched a new campaign for independence of that British nation, presenting the first of a series of documents that plead for a breakup with the UK.

“After everything that has happened, Brexit, COVID, (British Prime Minister) Boris Johnson, the time has come to present a different and better visionr,” Sturgeon told a news conference in Edinburgh.

“It’s time to talk about independence,” added the leader of the SNP independence party, considering that she has “an indisputable democratic mandate” in this regard after her party’s victory in the 2021 regional elections.

The head of the Scottish Home Rule Government, Nicola Sturgeon, wants to organize a new referendum to break with the UK. Photo: AFP

Sturgeon wants to organize a new self-determination referendum in Scotland by 2023despite the refusal of the London government, which must authorize it, and after a first consultation held in 2014 in which 55% of voters rejected independence.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) defends that Brexit, which was opposed by the majority of Scots in 2016, has changed the situation and that the nation must now be able to join the European Union as an independent state.

“Brexit has taken us out of the EU and the single market against our will, with enormous damage to trade, living conditions and public services,” he said.

“At this crucial moment … are we still tied to a British economic and social model that limits us to disappointing economic and social performanceWhich are likely to get worse rather than better outside the European Union?” he asked.

Nicola Sturgeon pointed to the crisis that Boris Johnson is going through as a reason to call for a new referendum.  Photo: REUTERS

Nicola Sturgeon pointed to the crisis that Boris Johnson is going through as a reason to call for a new referendum. Photo: REUTERS

Or do we look up with hope and optimism and take inspiration from comparable countries across Europe?

The first of a list of documents published this Tuesday, a “white paper” that analyzes the performance of ten European countries such as Ireland, Switzerland or Belgium, shows that these are “more prosperous, fairer and more productive than the United Kingdom,” he stressed. the independence leader.

“Why not Scotland?”, a nation endowed with abundant energy resources, an important agri-food industry and a rich natural heritage, he insisted.

Other documents will follow in the coming months, on currency, public finances, social security, trade, defence, security and EU membership.

Johnson, who has the last word on whether or not to authorize a new self-determination referendum, strongly opposes to him considering such a query can only occur “once in a generation”.

But Sturgeon denounced that his “government does not respect democracy”, considering that the SNP’s electoral victory last year shows that the Scots support his pro-sovereignty program.

“We have a prime minister with no democratic authority in Scotland and no moral authority anywhere in the UK,” he added, referring to the multiple scandals surrounding Johnsonwho also faces a rebellion in his own conservative ranks.

Source: AFP

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