“Not again…” was on the majority of Scot’s minds when they woke up on the 24 June as the EU referendum delivered a leave vote. Likewise to over 16 million voters, I was faultily over confident the referendum would go the way I wanted it to.
However, when I came downstairs, my nightmares were confirmed as there was Nigel Farage on television triumphing his win for the ‘ordinary people’. Since then it has been nothing less than lunacy within Westminster, Tories torn apart over their leadership contest, a civil war ignited within the Labour camp as Jeremy Corbyn refuses to give in, and despite half-hearted reassurances from several MP’s, we are not any clearer on the economic future with our European neighbours.
North of the English border however, there is a more sedate state of political affairs. With all Scottish parties within Holyrood all campaigning to remain, there is a joint urgency left and right of the political spectrum to negotiate a deal that will keep us within EU.
With this comes the question of yet another independence referendum only two years after Scotland voted against the issue. Many, including the First Minister herself, declaring this may be the only option if we wish to remain part of the European organisation. For Nicola Sturgeon this undying willingness to hold another referendum so soon could actually lead to her shooting herself in the foot as the risk of losing will not only severely damage her career, but also damages the independence movement for a generation.
It would be wiser for Sturgeon to bide her time and see how the EU will treat Scotland’s interests separate from the rest of the United Kingdom, as many people would find it especially undemocratic to completely ignore Scotland’s opposite interests as a nation.
On that fateful Friday I was listening to a BBC radio Scotland panel program where MoneyWeek editor Merryn Somerset Webb was quoted saying: “Indy ref two, remain in the EU”. This phrase caught my interest as the structure of it made the idea of another independence referendum sound like a cheap and unpopular sequel to the big blockbuster that was released two years ago.
The recent Scottish elections proved there is a rise of popularity for pro-union parties as the Conservatives gained the most seats they have ever held within Scottish Parliament. You might say the public do not want another constitutional change because not much else has changed. In other words why buy a ticket to see the same film you saw in 2014?
Despite a Scotpulse poll revealing that 59% of voters would back independence in another referendum, it does not mean that this decision should be rushed and the overused catchphrase of keep calm and carry on has never been more relevant than it is now.
As for the people who campaigned and convinced the Scottish people to vote No with the promise of securing EU membership, it is their responsibility to regain the people’s confidence by securing an economic trading deal, possibly in partnership with London and Northern Ireland, that would ease the pressure off Scotland’s business sector within the continent, but this is far from a guarantee. Plus, the Scottish Government’s hopes of increasing migration to boost the economy has been severely dampened and highly unlikely without the free movement of EU residents.
With the UK in a political and economic crisis, it would be in Scotland’s best interest to delay another referendum on independence. As days progress, the Westminster government becomes rapidly far right and support for independence will only increase as we continue to see elections and major constitutional decisions go against our wishes. With no politician being able to accurately predicate what will happen once article 50 is triggered, nothing seems to be a certainty.
One thing is for sure, I am proud of the way myself and a huge number of citizens voted, we the unordinary to Farage’s accordance will continue to strive for a modern developing world leaving a trail of lost and confused politicians behind us.
Photo by Lawrence OP/Flickr
