Sturgeon refused to say whether she believed Irish reunification would come before Scottish independence…reports Asian Lite News
Nicola Sturgeon has predicted an independent Scotland and a united Ireland as part of a “wider shake-up” of the UK’s constitution.
The former first minister speaking to the BBC to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2014 referendum. “I believe that, perhaps as part of a wider shake-up of UK governance, the reunification of Ireland, perhaps, more autonomy in Wales, that I think we will see Scotland become an independent country,” she said.
“I’ll certainly campaign and advocate for that for as long as I’ve got breath in my body.”
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Sturgeon refused to say whether she believed Irish reunification would come before Scottish independence but added: “I do think that will happen. “I think we will see over the next number of years, I’m not going to sit here and put a figure on that, what I would describe as a very healthy realignment of how the nations of the British Isles are governed and cooperate together.”
Asked whether he supported Sturgeon’s predictions about an independent Scotland and a united Ireland, John Swinney told journalists: “Do I think they’ll both happen? Yes, I do. So I agree with that point very much. I think the tide and the pattern of those debates is moving decisively and emphatically in that direction.”
Craig Hoy, the Scottish Conservative chairman, said: “Nicola Sturgeon simply cannot help herself. Not only is she still pushing Scottish independence at every turn, she has now decided to weigh in on the divisive issue of a border poll in Ireland too.
“Rather than constantly talking about the break-up of the United Kingdom, the former SNP leader should be focused on the real priorities of the people in Glasgow Southside. She should stop being a part-time MSP and stand up for what really matters to her constituents like record NHS waiting times, good local jobs and keeping communities safe from crime.”
Sturgeon said at the time that the departure from the EU had “brought to the fore some very fundamental questions” over governance in the UK.
O’Neill became Northern Ireland’s first nationalist first minister in February, fuelling debate about the possibility of a border poll.
The 1998 Good Friday Agreement says that “the people on the island” should be able to exercise “their right of self-determination on the basis of consent, freely and concurrently given, North and South, to bring about a united Ireland”, subject to the principle of consent in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Act 1998 states that “if at any time it appears likely” that a majority of those voting in a border poll would “express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland”, the secretary of state will consent to a border poll. It is not clear exactly how this process would come about.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said last year that an Irish unity referendum was “not even on the horizon”.
Sturgeon described herself as a natural pessimist but said that was not the case come polling day, 18 September 2014. “Unusually for me, in the final days, I was really optimistic,” she said.
“I definitely felt that victory was within grasp.” The then deputy first minister had a leading role in the Yes campaign and spent the summer touring around Scotland.
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