LONDON (Reuters) – The Scottish National Party released a “Roadmap to Referendum” on Saturday setting out plans for another vote on Scottish independence, as the UK struggles with COVID-19 and the impact of Brexit.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who will have to agree to a new referendum, argues that no new vote is needed after Scottish voters were rejected by independence in 2014.
But the SNP has said that if it wins a parliamentary majority in elections scheduled for May 6, it will approve its own bill so a referendum can take place once the pandemic is over.
It says the British government will either have to agree to it or take legal action to challenge the legal basis of the referendum.
” A Scottish government of SNP will vehemently oppose such a legal challenge, ” reads the document, dated 24 January.
Polls show Scottish nationalists are on track to achieve a record majority in the election for Scotland’s devolved parliament.
Scots voted 55-45% against independence in a referendum in 2014, but Brexit and the British government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis has boosted support for the SNP, with most polls showing a majority prefer to break away.
A poll published on The Times website on Saturday showed another potential threat to the future of the UK, with 51% of Northern Irish voters saying they would hold a referendum within the next five years over their future preference, compared to 44% who are against it.
According to the polls, support for a United Ireland stands at 42%, compared to 47% who objected to Northern Ireland leaving the United Kingdom.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Christina Fincher)