Sturgeon: Hard Brexit makes Scottish independence 'more urgent'

The scenario of a hard Brexit would "increase the likelihood of Scotland becoming independent," Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has told EURACTIV, in an exclusive interview. Her comments come as hard and soft Brexit Conservatives rally against one another in Westminster for the vacant UK Prime Minister role.

Touching down in Brussels on Tuesday (11 June) for bilateral meetings with EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a spirited Sturgeon said that the possibility of a hard Brexit would become more feasible for Scottish voters.

A hard Brexit, Sturgeon said, "will lead many people in Scotland to consider that independence is not just desirable, but that it has become more urgent to protect ourselves from the damage that a no-deal Brexit would do."

By extension, EURACTIV pressed Sturgeon on whether she thought the key to Scottish independence could, in fact, be hardline Brexiteer Boris Johnson as the next UK Prime Minister. Johnson has said he will refuse to hand over the £39bn EU withdrawal payment until the bloc offers the UK a better deal, and has committed in no uncertain terms to withdrawing from the EU by the deadline of 31st October 2019.

"The key to Scottish independence is a majority of people in Scotland confidently deciding that we should be an independent country," Sturgeon said.

"Brexit, or the prospect of Boris Johnson or any of these hardline Brexiteers being Prime Minister, will undoubtedly further illustrate the divergent paths politically that Scotland and the rest of the UK are on," she added.

[july]

Support for Scottish independence from Hongkong

[richard-gnes]

Glad to see some things never change. Shes been shouting for independence for many years... i say do it

[martindornan]

The Scottish people are sovereign that sovereignty doesn't just last for one day in 2014.
The Scottish people voted by 62%to stay in the EU.
The Scottish parliament voted by 69-59 in favour of IndyRef2.
The SNP had it in there election manifesto that if there is a significant change such as Scotland being forced out of the EU then there should be another independence referendum. The SNP won that election.
Westminster has ignored the Scottish people, the Scottish parliament and the Scottish government.
In an independent Scotland the Scottish people would be governed by the government that they vote for and not be governed by the government that another country voted for.

[thecityhall]

A Nation has a right to exist on its own. Period.

[greenrachel]

Scotland is a country on its own so it can be independent from the rest of United Kingdom and apply to join EU. Support SNP and Scotland independence. The UK government keep talking about democracy, in this case why they will stop Scotland referendum

[jamesmurphy]

How can you be independent if you are a member of the EU.

[mc-ecbu]

Oh i am so so glad scotland has got her . I just hope they keep her there so she doesn't infect the normal good clean people of the UK.

[cosifantutte]

And Scotland would be independent in the EU?

[juanitarichardson]

I agree we want independence from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[ginskimpivot]

Week in and week out, she sits there trashing the Tories and Labour. In my opinion, what some of the vegetables who support Sturgeon don't realise, is that Scottish Nationalism isn't a political ideology.

Saltire-waving braveheart types, punching the air and dancing around in tartan bobble hats are following their emotive pride in little more than the base instinctual urges, demonstrating a barely moderate form of raucous patriotism. This lady actually passed on heavier cuts than Westminster ever handed to Scotland.

All main Scottish portfolios are underperforming. Education and poverty are worsening. Infrastructure projects and internal transportation are deteriorating. Health dashboard markers are lamentable. Late last year Audit Scotland said health boards were "struggling to break even" and none had met all of the key national targets - with NHS Lothian not meeting any, and demand is rising. And yet the per capita spending in Scotland is around £10, 900 - 16% above the UK average. She has also regularly ignored democratic Parliamentary votes in her own chamber.

French nationalism - bad. German nationalism - bad. English nationalism - bad. Scottish nationalism - Good!

Very strange.

Divert the oil, shipyards and all other British owned work to England. Have your referendum but include the English vote, we will save our money instead of paying for a failed Education and Health Service caused by a not fit for purpose Scottish Government.

[trevortaylor]

If they wanted independence why vote to be part of the EU that's not independence

[bbclondoncalling]

The Trolls on here will choke on their own blind hatred.

[moow]

Scotland should have been free, a long time ago. Now is the time to finally get liberated from the brutal English.

[didierlemoine]

Scotland and Wales hv the right to be free and rich with petrol and gas away from London and England !

[hazelfisher]

Is this bloody woman ever going to give up

[garyredmond]

She wants an independent Scotland but happy for the country to be dominated by a bunch of non elected European buruecrats lol.. PS I'm Scottish btw

[leonardpattison]

New e u members have to take the euro and the lisbon treaty .Scotland will be about as independent as say Texas.

[imanomad]

Just hurry up and leave the UK we can use the monies better elsewhere like the NHS, AIR ambulance, mod bases etcetc, eu will have to fund you not the UK.

[elizabethtaylor]

This is what a talking arse looks like.. and I am Scottish .