2023 proposed Scottish independence referendum
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A second referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom has been proposed by the Scottish Government.[1] The date has been provisionally set for the 19th October 2023. The first independence referendum, held in 2014, saw Scotland opt to remain a constituent nation of the UK.
History
2014 Independence Referendum
The last referendum concerning Scottish independence from the United Kingdom was held on September 18, 2014.[2] The referendum question was, "Should Scotland be an independent country?", which voters answered with "Yes" or "No". The "No" side won with 2,001,926 (55.3%) voting against independence and 1,617,989 (44.7%) voting in favour.[3] Following the failure of the referendum, the First Minister, Alex Salmond, resigned and was succeeded by Nicola Sturgeon, the then Depute First Minister.[4][5]
2015-16 Elections
The 2015 UK General Election was held almost eight months after the 2014 referendum.[6] It saw the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) win 56 of the 59 Scottish seats at Westminster, with 50% of the popular vote, and reduced the number of unionist MP's to three.[7] The Prime Minister, David Cameron, was returned with a unexpected majority.[8] Later that year, the UK Government began legislating for a referendum on UK membership of the EU. The 2016 Scottish Parliament election was held mere weeks before the EU referendum. At the election, it saw the SNP lose their majority but increase their share of the popular vote and the other major pro-independence party, the Greens increase their overall seat total to 6.
Brexit
2021 Scottish Parliament Election
The 2021 Scottish Parliament Election was held on the 5th May. This election was held amid the coronavirus pandemic[9] and after the Salmond-Sturgeon scandal.[10] At the election, pro-independence parties secured a majority of the seats and votes.[11] After the election, the SNP and the Greens, both pro-independence parties, signed a confidence-and-supply deal.
Legality
Issues
Responses
For
Against
Opinion Polling
- ^ "Nicola Sturgeon insists Holyrood has 'indisputable' mandate to hold indyref2". Thurrock Gazette. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Scottish independence: Alex Salmond sets poll date – and defies London". the Guardian. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Scottish independence referendum - Results - BBC News". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Alex Salmond resigns as first minister after Scotland rejects independence". the Guardian. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Nicola Sturgeon confirmed as next leader of the SNP". the Guardian. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Election 2015 - BBC News". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Election 2015 - BBC News". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ CNN, Laura Smith-Spark and Paul Armstrong. "UK election: Conservatives win outright majority". CNN. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Four in five Scots say Nicola Sturgeon has handled the coronavirus outbreak well".
- ^ "What is the Alex Salmond controversy all about?". the Guardian. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "Scottish election 2021: Results in maps and charts". BBC News. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2022.