Scotland's leader seeks new independence referendum

[BeyondGeography]

Source: Associated Press

EDINBURGH, Scotland Scotland's leader has said she will seek authority for a new independence referendum.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Monday she will move quickly to give Scottish voters a chance to make Scotland an independent country.

Sturgeon said British Prime Minister Theresa May has so far refused to compromise with Scotland over Brexit.

She said it is important for Scotland to take active steps to protect its interests as Britain prepared to trigger its departure from the European Union.

Scottish voters rejected independence in a 2014 referendum, but Sturgeon said that the U.K.'s decision to leave the EU had brought about a "material change or circumstances."

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/world/scotland-s-leader-seeks-new-independence-referendum-1.11631173

[Demsrule86]

1. Theresa May is the UK version of Trump...she was not elected and really

should have no say in anything...Ireland should unite and leave...Scotland should leave also. Sadly, England will go down the tubes under conservative rule.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. The only thing Theresa May is guilty of is being overtaken by events and surrounded by barbarians

The Conservative leadership race collapsed around her and she woke up one day as Prime Minister, all the while the most strident Brexiteers stood on the sidelines with megaphones.

I have a tremendous amount of sympathy for her.

[jeanmarc]

2. Support Scotland rejoining the EU.

Let England suck it. Scottish workers will easily be hired above English workers. England needs to get its act together as the EU is a real entity and you can't just wish it away.

[GWC58]

5. Maybe, seeing Scotland wanting

independence, could even spur Wales into leaving. Doubtful, but you never know. Eventually it could be the United Kingdom of Great Britain 🇬🇧.

[Dawson Leery]

9. Germany needs to play hard ball

with England. Their nationalistic insolence cannot be tolerated.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. If there is a referendum, the timing could complicate things enormously

The Brexit negotiations can take up to 2 years, and are generally expected to take pretty much all of that, since they'll be complicated. Assuming Article 50 is invoked this month, as expected, that means the terms of exit may not be finalised until March 2019.

So a referendum "between the fall of 2018 and the spring of 2019" could be:
before the terms are at all clear, and when the result may affect the negotiations;
when the terms have been sorted out, but the UK has not officially left - (this may include the other EU members OKing the terms with their own parliaments);
or after the UK has left the EU.

I can't see May agreeing to a date without it being sure which of these categories it will fall into.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Live reaction pages on the BBC and Guardian:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39255256

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2017/mar/13/article-50-commons-lords-brexit-sturgeon-speech-corbyn-clarifies-his-position-on-second-scottish-independence-referendum-saying-hes-opposed-politics-live

[geek tragedy]

7. Time for Scotland to be free from the tyranny of the English nt

[FairWinds]

8. Go Bill Wallace !!

"I'm William Wallace, and the rest of you will be spared.
Go back to England and tell them... Scotland is free!"