Scottish Parliament Votes in Favor of Second Independence Referendum from Britain

On Tuesday, April 8, the Scottish Parliament voted in favor of Nicola Sturgeon's proposal for a referendum on independence from Britain, to be held in late 2018 or 2019. According to Reuters, 69 representatives supported Ms. Sturgeon's proposal while 59 opposed it. This vote obliges the First Minister of Scotland to seek permission from the British Parliament to hold the referendum again. Scotland had a referendum on independence in 2014, but at that time, the majority of the people in this part of Britain voted to remain in the country. However, Brexit and the British people's vote to leave the European Union have placed Scotland in a different situation, as most Scots were in favor of remaining in the EU. Reuters notes that the vote on Tuesday was predictable. If the British Parliament also approves this proposal, the Scottish independence referendum will be held before Britain exits the EU. The Associated Press reported that during the voting session in Edinburgh, Ms. Sturgeon told the representatives that 'Scotland's future must be in Scotland's hands.' She stated that Brexit has changed the circumstances compared to 2014, and therefore a new referendum should be held between autumn 2018 and spring 2019. The First Minister of Scotland also emphasized that the changes resulting from Brexit should not be imposed on Scotland, and Scotland should have the right to decide on the nature of these changes. Previously, Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, whose government must ultimately approve the referendum, stated that now is not the right time for this referendum. According to her, all of Britain, consisting of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, must work together to achieve the best possible agreement with the EU.