Nicola Sturgeon, the current First Minister of Scotland, has recently announced plans for a second referendum to be held some time in the next few years. Recently a number of polls have been taken. The results of the BMG Research polls that have been published say that 39% agree with having another referendum before Brexit negotiations and 49% disagree. Currently it is looking quite close for Scotland to leave the United Kingdom, especially after the choice to leave the European Union was made in June 2016, with 55% of Scots wanting to remain in the EU. This leaves doubt about Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom if a second referendum is held.

After a meeting with her cabinet, Sturgeon said that details of the vote should be decided by the Scottish parliament. There has been speculation that UK prime minister, Theresa May, will try and delay the vote until after the Brexit process is complete. However, Sturgeon said that there should be no “blocking mechanisms”. The Scottish National Party has warned Theresa May not to delay the vote, after growing belief that she will try and delay it. The deputy leader Angus Robertson insisted that the SNP was right to push for the vote as early as autumn next year, rather than seeing “the prime minister drive us over a Brexit cliff”.

Gina, Year 8