UK government opposition to a second referendum will only increase support for Scottish independence

The Scottish National Party (SNP) won a landslide victory in Scotland in the British general election held on 12th December. They won 48, that is 80%, of Scotland's 59 seats. Although  the Conservatives won a significant majority across the rest of the UK, they lost seven of the 13 seats they previously held in Scotland. There is a clear pattern in every recent election, of Scotland voting differently than the rest of the countries that make up the, so-called, United Kingdom.  Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party, is correct when she points out that Scotland's democratic voice is being ignored and that only independence will solve this issue. 

In order for this to happen a further referendum on Scottish independence needs to take place. Nicola Sturgeon has now published a paper arguing that "consensus is growing by the day" in Scotland for a second referendum, and that there is a "clear mandate for this nation to choose its own future". She has made a statement that: "We are therefore today calling for the UK government to negotiate and agree the transfer of power that would put beyond doubt the Scottish Parliament's right to legislate for a referendum on independence.

"I anticipate that in the short term we will simply hear a restatement of the UK government's opposition. But they should be under no illusion that this will be an end of the matter."

At this stage the British Prime Minister is resisting the call for a second Scottish referendum on independence. However, the longer the UK government ignores Scotland's democratic voice, there is every likelihood that support for independence will grow. At the same time the UK Prime Minister and government will not be able to continue to resist the growing argument for the people of Scotland to have another vote on independence,