Scotland Still Has to Navigate a Rocky Road to Independence
In the wake of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, support for Scottish independence is higher than ever. But the Scottish National Party still has many hurdles to clear before it can break up the United Kingdom.
Nicola Sturgeon speaking during an event in Edinburgh. (Jane Barlow / PA Images via Getty Images)
Since Boris Johnson won the UK general election at the end of 2019, support for an independent Scotland has gone up in the polls. The Scottish National Party (SNP) won this year’s Scottish Parliament election for the fourth consecutive time. They’ve agreed on a coalition pact with the Scottish Greens, who also support independence.
The SNP’s primary goal is to hold a second referendum after falling short in 2014. Johnson’s Tory government in London says it won’t even consider the idea. Johnson’s Brexit deal has strengthened the case for independence in a country that voted decisively against any form of Brexit back in 2016. But it has also made the economics of an independent Scotland far more challenging. Ending a union that has lasted for three centuries won’t be straightforward.
This is an edited transcript from an episode of Jacobin Radio’s Long Reads podcast. You can listen to the episode here.
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