Scotland calls for second independence referendum as UK prepares for Brexit

SCOTLAND wants another referendum and Northern Ireland is in crisis. As the UK prepares to trigger Article 50, things are about to get complicated.

UK Politics has been described as “three dimensional chess” at the moment. Picture: AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS

SCOTTISH First Minister Nicola Sturgeon lobbed a grenade into the UK parliament on the eve of Brexit negotiations, saying she would seek permission for a second Independence referendum in the northern nation.

The explosive announcement came as UK MPs prepared to vote on the terms of a bill that would allow the UK Prime Minister Theresa May to head to Brussels this week to trigger Article 50 — essentially firing the starting gun on two years of negotiations that will see the UK divorce itself from the EU.

It comes as Northern Ireland is facing a tumultuous situation of its own with the two main parties locked in a dispute they have two weeks to resolve.

The outcomes could see borders thrown back up and will change the shape of the UK and Europe as we know it.

Here’s what you need to know about the game of “three dimensional chess” that is UK politics right now.

WHY ANOTHER REFERENDUM?

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon shocked Westminster on Monday when she said she would ask for a second independence referendum.

Although the country had one in 2014, Sturgeon said the Brexit vote has changed matters and Scotland should get another chance to decide its future in a vote pitched for 2018.

That’s because Scotland voted overwhelmingly to Remain in the Brexit referendum — as did Northern Ireland, while England and Wales voted to Leave. Sturgeon said her efforts to lobby for Scottish interests have been met by a “brick wall” from the UK government who wants a “hard Brexit” (used to describe being outside the European single market).

“In 2014 we didn’t know the UK would vote to leave the EU, if we had done so ... perhaps we would have come to a different decision,” she said.

“What Scotland deserves ... is the chance to decide our future in a fair free and democratic way and at a time when we are equipped with the facts.”

Sturgeon’s critics say there is no appetite for a second referendum. AFP PHOTO / Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS

But, a second referendum would have to be granted by the UK parliament. On Monday, Number 10 did not say no, but did say it would be “divisive” and cause huge economic uncertainty at the “worst possible time”.

Others have speculated it would lead to the prospect of the UK “unravelling”, while critics said there is little appetite for another vote and the issue had already been settled.

The Scotland story rightly has had massive attention for some time. Sadly N Ireland is also likely to be part of the Brexit UK unraveling

— Alastair Campbell (@campbellclaret) March 13, 2017

Remember when talk of 'the break up of the UK' was dismissed as part of 'Project Fear'? Now Scottish Independence is odds-on.

— Arno Bryant (@MrArnoBryant) March 13, 2017

Nicola Sturgeon has today chosen the path of further division and uncertainty. We will vote against any request for a Section 30 next week.

— Ruth Davidson (@RuthDavidsonMSP) March 13, 2017

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants to hold a second independence referendum once the UK has a Brexit deal on the table so people know what they’re voting for. AFP PHOTO / Paul ELLIS

WHAT ABOUT BREXIT?

Sturgeon’s bombshell came on the same day UK MPs were due to vote on Article 50 in a move that will allow May to head to Brussels and start the negotiations.

That vote has been subject to its own set of complications after the House of Lords sent it back to the Commons with an amendment that guaranteed the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.

There are around 3 million of them and so far, May has not guaranteed they will be able to stay, claiming she wants to ensure reciprocal rights for Brits abroad before offering it. The failure to make it clear for them has sparked public outcry and campaigns, with huge uncertainty for families and workers who are unsure what their future will be.

Keeping up? Good.

NOW TO NORTHERN IRELAND

The other huge issue at the moment is Northern Ireland, where the two main parties are locked in talks after their own snap election.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) (which wants to stay in the UK) is battling with Sinn Fein (which wants to join with the rest of Ireland) to appoint a First Minister after a close result.

If the deadlock can’t be resolved by March 27, current laws say it could lead to another election or in a worst case, governance of Northern Ireland could be transferred to London.

The bigger question is what it means for the future of Ireland post-Brexit. There is already debate about whether a border will have to go back up as this would be the UK only land border with Europe.

THAT’S NOT EVEN THE BIGGEST PROBLEM

While huge, those issues don’t even touch on the fact the UK is about to embark on untangling 40 years’ worth of legislation with 27 different countries as it tries to extricate itself from the EU.

Once Article 50 is triggered, it will have two years to work out a deal or revert to World Trade Organisation terms which could be a massive economic shock to both the UK and Europe.

In addition, Europe is about to hold its own set of major elections in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy so May doesn’t even know who she will be negotiating with yet.

Looks like another sleepless night for Theresa May ahead.

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