Sturgeon calls plan to scuttle Scottish independence ‘desperate’

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has branded as “desperate” the idea of new British legislation that would limit hopes of Scottish independence.

“Only those who fear losing feel the need to change the democratic goalposts. This desperate suggestion is proof positive that the pro-independence arguments are winning,” the Scottish first minister said on her Twitter account.

Sturgeon has thus reacted to the plan by senior UK government officials considering introducing legislation that would require more than half of the Scottish electorate to vote for independence, rather than a majority.

Ministers would thus be seeking to introduce new barriers to block the independence movement, the Sunday Times has learned.

This new law would require evidence for at least a year that at least 60 percent of Scotland’s voters want a new referendum to be held before central government would consider it.

In the event that a new vote is agreed, it would require at least 50 percent of the entire electorate to vote to leave the union, rather than a majority of more than half of those who voted, as happened in the 2014 independence referendum and the 2016 Brexit vote.

In 2014, 85 percent of the Scottish electorate voted and 55 percent supported remaining part of the union.

Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, one of whom will be appointed as the new first minister this Monday, have expressed their opposition to a new vote. For its part, the Scottish Government has stated its intention to hold another referendum on October 19, 2023.