In recent years, more Scots have been calling for independence from the UK, but the British government keeps shutting the door on a second referendum. According to a report on July 23, UK’s new Prime Minister Burnham told Scottish First Minister John Swinney during their meeting that holding another independence vote is “absolutely not” going to happen.
Burnham and Swinney had a 40-minute chat in Glasgow on the 23rd, where Burnham reiterated his plan to push for more devolved powers to local authorities. He promised not to bypass the Scottish government in this process.
When it came to Scottish independence, Burnham urged Swinney to drop the idea of a new referendum. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office said, “Prime Minister Burnham has made it crystal clear that a second independence referendum is off the table because it would distract us from growing the economy and helping families with the cost of living crisis.”
UK Prime Minister Burnham and Scottish First Minister Swinney (Photo: Associated Press)
Swinney leads the Scottish National Party, which has long pushed for independence. In May’s local elections, the SNP secured 58 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, keeping its status as the largest party but without an outright majority. After a vote in the Scottish Parliament, Swinney was re-elected as First Minister.
Back in 2014, Scotland held an independence referendum, with about 55% voting to stay in the UK. But after the UK decided to leave the EU, the Scottish government has been pushing for another vote, arguing that Brexit changed everything—over 60% of Scots opposed leaving the EU.
Swinney believes independence could help Scotland escape “political chaos and economic stagnation” and find “greater security and prosperity” as an EU member.
According to a UK Supreme Court ruling, the Scottish government can’t hold a second independence referendum without approval from the UK Parliament.
With the UK’s political turmoil and economic slowdown, support for Scottish independence has been growing. A poll from April, reported by The National newspaper in Scotland, found that 50% of Scottish respondents would vote for independence, 44% against, and the rest were undecided.