LONDON (AP) – The Scotland leader said on Sunday that she plans to hold a “legal referendum” on independence from the UK if she wins the Scottish elections scheduled for May.
Such a move would put Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon on a constitutional collision course with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is opposed to a new secession.
Scotland voted to remain in the UK by a 55% -45% margin in a 2014 referendum announced as a one-off event. A new binding referendum requires the approval of the UK government, and Johnson insists he will say no.
Sturgeon argues that Brexit has changed the situation by dragging Scotland out of the European Union against his will. A narrow majority of British voters chose to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but a large majority in Scotland voted to stay.
A series of recent polls suggest that a small majority now support Scotland becoming an independent country. Sturgeon says her Scottish National Party will participate in elections in May “to seek the authority of the Scottish people” for a new referendum.
“If the SNP wins the Scottish elections in a few months with the proposal to give the people that choice, which Democrat could rightly stand in the way of that? Boris Johnson is just plainly 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 allowing for another referendum once the coronavirus pandemic is over. If Johnson’s government refused to consent, the matter would likely go to court.
“I want a legal referendum, I’m going to seek the authority of the Scottish people in May and if they give me that authority, that’s what I intend to do,” said Sturgeon.
Opposition parties in Scotland say Sturgeon should focus on defeating the coronavirus and supporting the economy, rather than planning for independence.