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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Scottish govt seeks independence vote in 2023

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Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that the Scottish parliament would publish an independence referendum bill with a planned date for a vote on secession to take place on October 19, 2023. Sturgeon said she would be writing to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for permission to hold a consultative referendum, saying it was vital the vote was legal. She said the issue would be referred to the UK Supreme Court.


Voters in Scotland, which has a population of around 5.5 million, rejected independence in 2014. But Scotland's semi-autonomous government says Britain's departure from the EU, which was opposed by a majority of Scots, means the question must be put to a second vote.


Johnson and his ruling Conservative Party, which is in opposition in Scotland, strongly oppose a referendum, saying the issue was settled in 2014 when Scots voted against independence by 55 per cent to 45 per cent. He has previously refused to issue a "Section 30" order to allow a referendum to take place. — AFP


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