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Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is seeking another vote on Scottish independence, coming possibly as soon as late 2018:
In a bombshell announcement Monday, Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon told reporters in Edinburgh that she will seek the authority to hold a second independence referendum for Scotland. Citing a "brick wall of intransigence" from British Prime Minister Theresa May, Sturgeon asserted that the only way to preserve Scottish interests in the midst of the U.K. exit from the European Union is to put matters directly in the hands of Scottish voters.
"What Scotland deserves, in the light of the material change of circumstances brought about by the Brexit vote, is the chance to decide our future in a fair, free and democratic way — and at a time when we are equipped with the facts we need," the Scottish first minister and head of the Scottish National Party said in prepared remarks. "Whatever path we take, it should be one decided by us, not for us."
Next week, she will seek a section 30 order from the Scottish Parliament to begin the referendum process — which the U.K. Parliament in Westminster ultimately must approve. If all goes as planned, Sturgeon expects that a vote would be held in the fall of 2018 or spring of 2019, after terms of a Brexit deal worked out by the U.K. and the EU become clear.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 14 2017, @08:18PM
> if the EU has to resort to threats and intimidation
If put that way, it sounds pretty bad. But the same thing could be put as "if you start a book club and you sell the books to non-members for 1 EUR, but to members for 2 EUR, you will not have many members" it's just common sense.
The other part why people think the UK will no manage to get a good deal is because it doesn't look good on the negotiation front.
I think all too many people in the UK cannot fathom the EU as an idealistic project, and they will have a hard time negotiating with those people that do.
Things like the government basically saying "we absolutely need to hold the fate of EU nationals in the UK as negotiation chips" really doesn't leave much space for goodwill. Unless that is quickly resolved, there is a risk of that alone generating a front of people who just won't be interested in a deal, even if it has a financial cost.
Honesty, kindness and interest in the common good are also assets you bring to the negotiation table, and the UK (in shape of its government, the people are a completely different topic) since quite a while hasn't shown much ability for any of these.