In January 2021, Nicola Sturgeon said that another referendum would be held if pro-independence parties won a majority of seats at the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Opposition parties criticised the SNP, stating that they were putting independence ahead of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [83] Although the SNP fell one seat short of winning outright, the eight seats won by the Scottish Greens meant that pro-independence parties had won a majority of seats in the election. [84] Speaking after the election, both SNP and Conservative representatives said that a referendum would not occur during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. [85]

take part in new ways for communities to own and steer the economy, including through direct stakes in local developments On 7 September 2021, Nicola Sturgeon stated that she would resume the case for independence and restart work on a prospects for independence. [3]

Carey, Rebecca (16 June 2022). "Nicola Sturgeon outlines second Scottish Independence referendum plans - What this means". Herald Scotland.

In 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU in the Brexit referendum, however Scotland voted to remain by 62% to 38%. [63] Leading pro-independence figures suggested a second independence referendum. [64] [65] For example, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said that she was looking at all options to "secure our place in the EU", and that a second referendum was "highly likely". [66] However, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Theresa May said that "The prime minister and the government does not believe that there is a mandate for [a second referendum]. There was one only two years ago. There was an extremely high turnout and there was a resounding result in favour of Scotland remaining in the UK". [67] [68] The concept of a democratic deficit is the most frequently invoked argument in favour of independence. England has a majority (84%) of the UK population. Thus, constituency results for Scotland rarely affect the outcome of general elections. From the 1960s onwards, average voting patterns in Scotland and England have diverged. [117] Scotland has only elected a majority of governing MPs in three of the 11 UK general elections since 1979. [118] Devolution was intended to close this deficit, [119] but Brexit, which happened despite 62% of voters in Scotland voting against it, [120] has highlighted this concern. [121] The Conservative Party, which often forms the UK Government by winning general elections, has not won a plurality of seats in Scotland since 1955. build on the success of devolved decision-making by making the most of other key Scottish economic strengths Scotland has great economic strengths. We have the skilled people, the dynamic businesses, and the natural resources — including vast, lower-cost, renewable energy — to be just as successful as comparable independent European countries.It is about the issues that matter the most, not least protecting the NHS in a written constitution.

With independence, decisions about all these things would be for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government, elected by the people of Scotland, to make. Decisions would be made based only on what is best for Scotland. The Scottish Government has a plan for becoming independent Why should we not be able to match the success of those independent countries that are both more productive and more equal than the UK? Westminster has already been able to undermine the devolution settlement, override decisions made by an elected Scottish parliament. Before the 2014 referendum, there were questions over the currency of an independent Scotland and whether it would continue to use the Pound sterling, adopt the Euro, or introduce a Scottish currency (often referred to as the " Scottish pound" [160]). Uncertainty could be brought in the immediate aftermath of independence, particularly disagreement as to how Scotland would be treated in relation to the European Union, and the unlikelihood of the Bank of England accepting a currency union with an independent Scotland. [161] [162] The chairman of HSBC, Douglas Flint, warned in August 2014 of uncertainty if there was an independent Scottish currency, or if Scotland joined the Eurozone, which could result in capital flight. [163] In 2018, the SNP suggested keeping the pound for a period after Scottish independence. Dame DeAnne Julius, a founding member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, has called this a "hugely risky experiment for Scotland". [164]

Further details of these proposals are set out in the A better economy with independence section of the full publication. Conclusions The idea of solidarity and guaranteed rights for diverse groups of individuals is of the utmost importance to me.