As a huge supporter of the 2014 campaign for Scottish independence, it’s difficult to say that now certainly isn’t the time for another referendum.
That’s not to say there is no longer a place for it, it just seems like there are much bigger issues at hand which are far more pressing.
In many ways, it feels like it’s more about making history for Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP than actually putting the needs of the country at the forefront.
To press for a second referendum on independence off the back of Brexit comes across as extremely rushed. Voting to remain in the EU doesn’t equal voting for Scotland’s independence and it shouldn’t be assumed that the two connect.
In my opinion, it would be extremely difficult to achieve a majority based on EU membership alone. This would be ignorance on the SNP’s part and completely ignores the issues that need addressing after the first referendum.
On reflection, the uncertainty surrounding certain issues in the campaign for independence resulted in the defeat, particularly with vague answers surrounding currency, for example, where the issue seemed to be brushed to the side all too often.
Clearly many people struggled to see the point of view that Scotland could be better off independent from Westminster and the SNP would do well to tackle these issues instead of jumping into a new referendum without knowing what awaits from Brexit.
A recent poll from the Herald highlights the concern, showing that 61.5% of Scottish voters are oppose the idea of an independence referendum this year. When this is broken down, it shows that even among those who voted Remain, support for independence has not increased, with just 44% in favour.
Scotland’s EU membership isn’t exactly set in stone with independence and the long drawn-out process would take time, so basing a campaign off of that is careless. Dragging Scotland into a potentially fractured EU is wrong since it is unclear what state it will be in after Brexit.
Independence is inevitable, but it takes time. The SNP need to play the long game instead of trying to capitalise on the anger and confusion following the Brexit vote.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels
In 2009, support for independence stood at around 20% (Ipsos Mori); by 2012, it was around 40% and rose to 44% in 2014. If we take 44% as our baseline figure for the starting gun, in the two years it takes to leave the EU, the Scots could well be over 50% in favour. Don’t presume the support NOW is what it will be in 2018; it wasn’t in the years before 2014.
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