Scotland will become "an independent country just like Ireland" Scottish First Minister predicts

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for a new Scottish independence referendum in the second half of 2020. She made the statement when on a visit to Ireland this week where she met the Taoiseach (Ireland's prime minister) in Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath). The Scottish First Minister said: "There will be another Scottish independence referendum and I will make a prediction today that Scotland will vote for independence and we will become an independent country just like Ireland, and the strong relationship between our two countries now will become even stronger soon."

Her comments came after the Scottish National Party (SNP) stormed to a decisive victory in the European Union elections with 37.7% of the vote an increase from 29% in the last EU elections in 2014. The SNP won 30 out of 32 councils areas in Scotland. Both Labour and the Conservatives’ saw a fall in their vote. Labour in particular witnessed a major collapse in support.