5 ms·

It seems disingenuous to suggest that Brexit gives ground for IndyRef2; it was always a possibility during IndyRef1.

alasdair_ 10y ago
A major campaign point behind the original Scottish independance vote failing was that by leaving the rest of the UK, Scotland would threaten its ability to be part of the EU.
- peteretep 10y ago
  A major campaign point was also that Scotland could keep the pound, which was an obvious fiction. Attempting to read tea-leaves after the fact about why people voted the way they did makes for a weak argument.
erispoe 10y ago
Pro-independence has risen in the polls since Brexit. It's enough to give the SNP enough political clout to push for another referendum. Brexit was a remote possibility during the IndyRef campaign. On the contrary, Cameron said multiple times that Scotland would have no guaranteed place in the EU as an independent country, making thinly veiled threats of opposing Scotland joining the EU. Cameron was backed in this by the conservative Spanish government who would very much like to prevent Catalonia from holding its own referendum.
- sparkzilla 10y ago
  The polls have actually shown a significant decline in the pro-independence vote (apart from a single outlier) since Brexit. And if the pro-independence side had won the country would currently be out of Europe.
  - matthewmacleod 10y ago
    And if the pro-independence side had won the country would currently be out of Europe. It is difficult to make that claim with any certainty.
    - peteretep 10y ago
      Given Spain has power of veto, seems hell-bent on preventing Catalonian seccession, and as recently as a few months ago was reiterating its opposition to an easy Scottish accession to the EU[0], I think the burden on proof lies on those making the claim against. [0] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/22/spain-rejects-nicola-sturgeon-brexit-plan-scotland-seemingly/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/22/spain-rejects-nic...
pc2g4d 10y ago
But seeing such a strong Scottish Remain vote seems to justify giving them a chance to stay in the EU as an independent nation.
- peteretep 10y ago
  The current position of the EU is that they can't, so the justification needs some major work.

A major campaign point behind the original Scottish independance vote failing was that by leaving the rest of the UK, Scotland would threaten its ability to be part of the EU.

peteretep 10y ago
A major campaign point was also that Scotland could keep the pound, which was an obvious fiction. Attempting to read tea-leaves after the fact about why people voted the way they did makes for a weak argument.

erispoe 10y ago

Pro-independence has risen in the polls since Brexit. It's enough to give the SNP enough political clout to push for another referendum. Brexit was a remote possibility during the IndyRef campaign. On the contrary, Cameron said multiple times that Scotland would have no guaranteed place in the EU as an independent country, making thinly veiled threats of opposing Scotland joining the EU. Cameron was backed in this by the conservative Spanish government who would very much like to prevent Catalonia from holding its own referendum.

sparkzilla 10y ago
The polls have actually shown a significant decline in the pro-independence vote (apart from a single outlier) since Brexit. And if the pro-independence side had won the country would currently be out of Europe.
- matthewmacleod 10y ago
  And if the pro-independence side had won the country would currently be out of Europe. It is difficult to make that claim with any certainty.
  - peteretep 10y ago
    Given Spain has power of veto, seems hell-bent on preventing Catalonian seccession, and as recently as a few months ago was reiterating its opposition to an easy Scottish accession to the EU[0], I think the burden on proof lies on those making the claim against. [0] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/22/spain-rejects-nicola-sturgeon-brexit-plan-scotland-seemingly/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/22/spain-rejects-nic...

pc2g4d 10y ago

But seeing such a strong Scottish Remain vote seems to justify giving them a chance to stay in the EU as an independent nation.

peteretep 10y ago
The current position of the EU is that they can't, so the justification needs some major work.