Brexit Behind Him, Boris Johnson Tries to Stop Scotland From Leaving U.K.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Scottish polling shows a majority favor independence. The prime minister is concerned.

LONDON — Barely six months after Britain broke away from the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is increasingly consumed with trying to stop the breakaway of restive parts of the United Kingdom.

On Friday, Mr. Johnson sent his popular Treasury chief, Rishi Sunak, to Scotland, to tamp down nationalist sentiment that has surged there in recent months. Another top minister, Michael Gove, went to Northern Ireland with nearly $500 million in aid to help frustrated companies deal with new checks on shipped goods.

Experts have long predicted that Brexit would strengthen centrifugal forces that were pulling apart the union. But in Scotland, in particular, the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated those forces, forcing Mr. Johnson to mount an elaborate — some say belated — charm offensive with the Scottish public. » | Mark Landler | Friday, August 7, 2020

Brexit Sparks Renewed Calls for Scottish Independence

Britain's departure from the European Union has sparked calls for another referendum on Scottish independence.

Nicola Sturgeon: Independence Best for Scotland Post-Brexit

Scotland's first minister urges supporters of Scottish independence to build and win the political case for it rather than rushing to hold a referendum.

Boris Johnson recently rejected Sturgeon’s request for the legal powers to hold a second referendum, but the Scottish National party leader said independence was the only way for the country to maintain its parliamentary sovereignty and connection to the EU Sturgeon calls for unity and focus in push for Scottish independence

'Empathy' for Independent Scotland Joining the EU Says Tusk

Former European Council president Donald Tusk says Brussels feels "empathy" towards an independent Scotland joining the European Union.

Tusk: EU would be enthusiastic if Scotland applied to rejoin »

Cameron and the Queen: Palace 'Displeasure' over Comments

Independence for Scotland Is Inevitable – We Need a Plan for It

THE GUARDIAN: If I were a Scot I’d vote for independence tomorrow. This crisis is Nicola Sturgeon’s opportunity

Ihope Scotland and Nicola Sturgeon realise how much they may yet owe Boris Johnson. If I were a Scot, I would vote for independence tomorrow. I would want nothing more to do with the shambles of today’s Westminster parliament, which goes on holiday for a month during the worst political crisis in a generation. Labour’s John McDonnell is entirely correct to reassure the Scots of their right to secede from the United Kingdom. The supreme civil right is that to self-government, and the inferior tier of a federation is entitled to claim it, not the superior one to permit.

Scotland has now voted itself a separatist Scottish National party local government unchallenged for 12 years. The party is 20 points ahead in the polls, while support for independence has topped 52%, the same percentage that voted for Brexit across the UK in 2016.

Johnson’s sidekick Dominic Cummings this week warned politicians that they “don’t get to choose which votes they respect”. That is exactly what Cummings and Johnson are doing. They are choosing to ignore the Brexit referendum pledge of frictionless trade, and Johnson is refusing to allow Sturgeon a referendum on independence. Sauce for the Brexit goose is sauce for the tartan gander. No wonder Johnson was about as welcome in Edinburgh last week as Donald Trump in El Paso. » | Simon Jenkins | Friday, August 9, 2019

The Guardian View on Boris Johnson and Scotland: State of Disunion

THE GUARDIAN: The prime minister has made visiting Scotland an early priority. But it is getting late to stop Brexit from breaking up the UK

Boris Johnson is insouciantly reluctant to be seen travelling cap in hand to Berlin, Paris or Brussels in pursuit of new Brexit terms. He has not even bothered to make a phone call to the Irish taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, even though the Irish border is the crunch Brexit issue. His attitude to the European Union is to try to make the foreigners sweat, even if the result is a slump in the value of sterling, as it was on Monday. And yet, like Theresa May before him, Mr Johnson felt the need to go to Scotland at the very start of his prime ministership.

Why did he come? Why the exception? It is, after all, improbable that the prime minister will get a political dividend from his meetings in Edinburgh. The first, with the Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, was at best an exercise in damage limitation. Mr Johnson’s casual embrace of a possible no-deal Brexit (which he just as casually denied in an interview) has undermined both Ms Davidson and Tory credibility on the issue in Scotland. Meanwhile, although the brutal sacking of the former Scottish secretary, David Mundell, last week may not have received much attention in England, it has been widely seen in Scotland as an act that pulls the rug from under Ms Davidson. » | Editorial | Monday, July 29, 2019

'Dangerous' UK Government Intent on Forcing No Deal, Says Sturgeon

THE GUARDIAN: Scotland’s first minister criticises Boris Johnson’s ‘hardline position’ on Brexit

Boris Johnson is pursuing a dangerous hardline strategy with EU leaders, with the intention of forcing a no-deal Brexit, Nicola Sturgeon has said following her first face-to-face meeting with the prime minister.

Speaking to reporters immediately after Johnson had left her official residence in Edinburgh, Scotland’s first minister said: “This is a government that is pursing a no-deal strategy, however much they might deny that in public.”

“Behind all of the bluff and bluster, this is a government that is dangerous. The path that it is pursuing is a dangerous one, for Scotland but for all of the UK. He says that he wants a deal with EU but there is no clarity whatsoever about how he thinks he can get from the position now, where he’s taking a very hard line … to a deal.”

Johnson was greeted by boos and heckles from an assembled crowd of pro-independence and anti-Brexit protesters as he arrived at Bute House on Monday afternoon, and chose to leave after the hour-long meeting by an alternative back entrance. » | Libby Brooks | Monday, July 29, 2019

Boris Johnson as PM Would Be 'Catastrophe' for UK, Say Scottish Tories

THE GUARDIAN: Fears that Tory frontrunner’s zeal for Brexit would boost support for independence

Senior Scottish Conservatives fear Boris Johnson’s election as Tory leader could be a “catastrophe” for the UK, because it is likely to turbo-charge the campaign for Scottish independence.

Senior Tories believe Johnson’s zeal for Brexit will immediately boost support for a fresh referendum – a view echoed by Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, on Sunday. Johnson as prime minister would be “devastating, disastrous” for the party and make the case for independence stronger than ever, she said.

Scottish Tories fear Johnson’s election is a foregone conclusion given his sizeable lead among English Tory activists and members, a lead that could withstand the revelations about his late-night row with this girlfriend Carrie Symonds.

“He would have to be guilty of criminality on a huge scale to be stopped,” said one senior Conservative colleague and critic. “Our job is to move this from being a catastrophe to a challenge.” » | Severin Carrell | Sunday, June 23, 2019

Nicola Sturgeon Interview on Brexit, Scottish Independence and the Euro

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon discusses her time frame for a second Scottish referendum - and is challenged on whether Scotland would have to commit to adopting the Euro if an independent Scotland were to join the EU.

Documentary: The Break up of Britain (2012)

Brexit Makes 2nd Scottish Independence Referendum Highly Likely In 2018

Sturgeon Vows Scottish Independence Vote in Event of Hard Brexit

First minister tells SNP conference in Glasgow she will defy the prime minister if Tories break ‘promises’ made to Scotland

Read the article here »

Nicola Sturgeon Announces Plan for Second Scottish Independence Referendum (October 13, 2016)

SNP party leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is upset that the UK decided to quit the EU (it was a UK vote not a Scottish vote)|, so she will push for Scotland to have a second referendum to split from the UK.

Scotland Considering Second Independence Referendum

Scotland 'Highly Likely' to Hold Second Independence Vote after EU Vote: Sturgeon

Vivienne Westwood Reveals Support for a Yes Vote in Scottish Independence Referendum at London Fashion Week

Britain's grand dame of fashion Vivienne Westwood urges Scotland to vote for independence ahead of the historic referendum on Thursday

Read the short Telegraph article here | Olivia Bolton, and agencies, video source APTN | Monday, September 15, 2014

Mark Carney: Independent Scotland Must Sign Up for the Euro to Join the EU

Mark Carney has warned an independent Scotland would have
to sign up for the euro to join the EU

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Bank of England Governor tells MSPs Scotland would have to join the euro in the "fullness of time".

The Bank of England’s Governor has warned an independent Scotland would be forced to promise to replace the pound with the euro if it wanted European Union membership.

In a major blow to Alex Salmond’s economic case for separation, Mark Carney told a Westminster inquiry that all new applicants to the EU have to join the single currency in the “fullness of time”.

He also told MPs it is a “distinct possibility” the Royal Bank of Scotland would have to move its headquarters south of the Border if there is a ‘yes’ vote in September’s independence referendum.

In triple blow to Alex Salmond’s economic case for independence, the Governor said a separate Scotland’s taxpayers would have to guarantee billions of pounds of deposits held by Scottish banks in England. » | Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor | Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Scottish Independence: Alex Salmond 'Reveals Currency Plan B'

First Minister appears to reveal 'sterlingisation' as his backup plan after saying that Scotland will keep the pound even without a currency union


Read the Telegraph article and comment on it here | Ben Riley-Smith, Scottish Political Correspondent | Monday, February 24, 2014

Could This Be the Next Queen of Scotland? As Independence Looms, Will Stuart Crown Return?

Could the Duchess of Alba be the next Queen of Scotland?

DAILY EXPRESS: A YES vote in September’s referendum on independence for Scotland could reawaken centuries old claims to the Scottish crown from members of the House of Stuart.

And an 87-year-old billionaire from Spain might argue she has the strongest claim.

For the Duchess of Alba is said to be one of two main contenders from the Stuart dynasty, whose Scottish monarchs transformed the country during their time in power.

While First Minister Alex Salmond insists Queen Elizabeth II would remain as head of state after a Yes vote, others are not so sure.

Some Scots look back fondly in the history books to their Stuart kings, the first of whom was Robert II in 1371.

By the 17th century, they ruled all of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

In 1603, James VI of Scotland became James I in London, unifying the two crowns. His son Charles I was executed and Charles II ascended to the thrones after Oliver Cromwell’s inter-regnum.

Charles II’s brother, Roman Catholic James II, then ruled until the Glorious Revolution saw him depart the British Isles.

The last Stuart monarch was Queen Anne, who died childless in 1714.

The Crown passed to the House of Hanover, but the Stuart line continued abroad. » | Ted Jeory | Thursday, February 20, 2014