Boris Johnson’s political headache isn’t over as the threat to the Union rears its head again GILES KENNINGHAM Boris Johnson has often been both the Houdini and the Heineken politician over the past decade. But if he survives the latest party-gate scandal he may unwittingly walk into a much bigger domestic political headache, with more than just his career on the line – the future of the union. Of course he will do [...]
UK could be forced to move nuclear weapons abroad if Scottish independence bid succeeds Scottish secession could see UK nukes relocated to France or US: reports Britain’s nuclear weapons could be moved to France or the United States in the event of Scottish independence, Ministry of Defence contingency plans reveal. Several anonymous officials were cited by the Financial Times on Wednesday as saying they had been briefed on plans which could see Britain’s nuclear deterrents, currently based in Scottish ports, relocated [...]
Scottish independence: UK minister says Scots could have a second referendum if backed by 60 per cent UK minister says Scots could have a second vote if backed by 60 per cent Scots could have a second independence referendum if polling consistently shows support for one at 60 per cent, according to the UK’s Scotland secretary. In the first time a minister has hinted at what the bar could be for a fresh vote, Alister Jack told Politico: “If you consistently saw 60 percent of the population [...]
UK needs to shake off British empire image to avoid Scottish independence, think tank says June 10, 2021 The UK needs to shake off the nationalist stereotypes of its British Empire to avoid Scottish independence, a think tank has reported. Those who favour Scottish independence associate “Britain with empire and empire with evil”, with independence part of “the progressive arc of history”, think tank Council on Geostrategy said. “In short, if the disintegration [...]
Johnson dismisses referendum talk despite polling January 14, 2021 Over half of Scots would vote in favour of Scottish independence if a referendum were to be held tomorrow, according to an opinion poll published today. According to the poll by Savanta ComRes, 57 per cent of Scots said they would vote in favour of independence, as opposed to 43 per cent who would vote [...]
Boris must find the bandwidth to take on Sturgeon – and keep the UK united December 30, 2020 Being prime minister is not an easy job. Whether you adopt the approach of Thatcher’s four-hours-a-night, or Macmillan’s retreating to Trollope novels at moments of extreme stress, it is a position which occupies your every waking (and probably many a sleeping) moment; the situation is not helped by the fact that the vast majority of [...]
General election 2019: SNP victory a ‘clear mandate for indyref2’ says Sturgeon December 13, 2019 The Scottish National Party has made huge gains across Scotland this election winning an additional 15 seats to bring the party’s total up to 48 reigniting talk of indyref2. Leader Nicola Sturgeon said it sent a “clear message” that there is a mandate for a second independence referendum. Read more: General Election night: Who are [...]
Scottish referendum revisited: Is an independent Scotland becoming inevitable? September 7, 2015 A fortnight today (18 September) will mark the first anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum – arguably the most important political event any of us in Scotland have experienced – giving pause for reflection on a year that has seen the referendum losers seem like winners, and vice versa. Despite the relatively decisive [...]
SNP bites back at PM after David Cameron vows to halt second Scottish independence referendum July 28, 2015 The SNP has rejected Prime Minister David Cameron’s claim that he would block another vote on Scottish independence. On Monday, Cameron said that he had the ability to shoot down a second referendum did “not see the need for another” vote. “It will be my ultimate decision, in line with the democratic decision-making processes of the [...]
David Cameron: There will be no second Scottish independence referendum while I am Prime Minister July 28, 2015 The Prime Minister has rejected claims by Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon that she will dictate when a second Scottish independence referendum takes place, ruling out another vote in the current parliament. The timing of a second vote, Sturgeon said, would ultimately be her decision, agreeing with Alex Salmond, former SNP leader, that it [...]