Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that she would act to ensure Scotland had a new independence referendum at the end of the Brexit process, before Theresa May stepped in to reject the first minister’s timetable, accusing the SNP leader of “tunnel vision”.
We asked readers how their voting intention in a new referendum would be influenced by Brexit, or other issues. The majority of respondents to our callout were supporters of Scottish independence in both 2014 and now. Here, though, we look at the views of people who have changed their minds.
‘The idea of leaving the EU is far worse than the idea of leaving the UK’ – Rachel Faulkner-Jones, 27, PhD researcher, Edinburgh
Voted no in 2014, but would support a new referendum and vote for independence
I’m no fan of borders and nationalism in principle, but Westminster and the Tories are leading the whole of the UK down a dangerous, murky path with seemingly no clear aim in sight. Labour offers no real opposition, and the idea of an indefinite Conservative reign, with cuts, xenophobia, intolerance and lack of compromise, makes Scotland’s independence – with all the economic, political and social struggles it will undoubtedly involve – infinitely preferable.
As a young(ish) academic, my employment sector relies on EU collaboration, and on my own ability to work freely in the EU. In addition I’ve had a child since 2014, and am horrified at the country that Westminster is creating for my child, for us, for refugees, for the poor and disabled, and everyone else besides. The landscape has significantly changed in the last two years, and I now find independence preferable. Brexit has caused this, undoubtedly. Better Together meant better together, not better together except for you and him and her and them. The idea of leaving the EU is far worse than the idea of leaving the UK.
‘The status quo is no longer the low-risk option it was in 2014’ – Mark Skene, 36, engineer, Aberdeenshire
Supports the idea of a second referendum. Voted no last time but now undecided
The landscape has fundamentally changed since 2014. Leaving the EU will be a disaster and I can’t believe more politicians aren’t prepared to stand up for what they believe in and fight to keep us in. I don’t know how I’ll vote if there is another Scottish referendum, but the case for holding one before we leave the EU is sound and I’m much more likely to vote yes next time than I was last time.
I voted no in 2014 for several reasons. I feel Scottish but I also feel British. I felt the upheaval and cost of independence was unnecessary, and in a globalised world I just felt independence wasn’t something that was worth the risk.
It is still a wrench to vote yes and tear apart the UK, but I feel I have more in common today with the majority of Europeans than with those in the UK that want to shut the door and only look after themselves. I have a young family and it seems like the best way to give them the opportunities that they deserve and to live in a respectful and inclusive country may be to seek independence. The economic risk of independence is still real, but then leaving the EU is going to come with massive economic consequences. The status quo is no longer the low-risk option it was in 2014.
‘We have to respect the democratic decision of the country as a whole’ – George, 46, project manager, Glasgow
Does not support a new referendum. Voted yes to independence in 2014, but would not do so again
In 2014 I felt the current union had run its course, and without fundamental changes to how the country was governed, the UK would simple become a London-centric power house over time, leaving the rest of the UK behind. But we had a referendum and we should respect that result. The SNP can’t just keep calling them until they get the result that they want.
The last referendum was so nasty and divisive I wouldn’t want to go through it again, and given the poor performance of the Scottish government in running the country, I wouldn’t want to see it holding all the power now. Brexit shouldn’t come into it – the UK voted to leave. Scotland voted to remain part of the UK. We have to respect the democratic decision of the country as a whole.
‘It’s time for Scotland to choose a different way’ – Sarah, 39, business owner, near Falkirk
Voted no last time, but would support a new referendum and would vote for independence
I do not want to live in a country that treats EU citizens as bargaining chips. I believe in our membership of the EU and the single market/customs union. I also reject the notion of decades of Tory rule. With no effective opposition, they can do as they want. They’ve broken two manifesto promises in a week with no repercussions. I voted no in 2014 because I was worried Scotland would no longer be in the EU. I also worried that without the Scottish vote, the UK would be abandoned to a Tory hellscape.
With the UK now heading for hard Brexit, it’s time for Scotland to choose a different way. With parliament acting as a spineless, toothless supporter, there is no opposition to the UK becoming a tax haven for large, exploitative corporations.
‘Scare tactics from the no side will only strengthen my determination’ – Gregory, 28, software engineer, Edinburgh
Voted no last time. Backs a second referendum and would vote for independence
Scotland did not vote for Brexit, so Scotland must have the option of independence rather than continuing in a Brexiting UK. The EU is far too important to how our country works and our national identity for this not to be decided at a Scottish level.
Although the Better Together scaremongering was blatant nonsense, I believed remaining in the UK was the best chance to remain in the EU, and I didn’t see independence as necessary. I (wrongly) believed that the UK would change for the better in the event of a no vote.
I see now that Westminster-style democracy just doesn’t work for Scotland and never can. I passionately want Scotland to remain an open, tolerant nation within the EU, and I am ashamed and sickened by the ugly face of British nationalism that has recently revealed itself. Clearly an independent Scotland would be best placed to look after Scotland’s interests. I would perhaps still consider a truly federal UK within the EU, but this is politically impossible. I realise Britishness does not have anything to do with being governed by Westminster, and any scare tactics employed by the no side will only strengthen my determination.
‘Hearing again and again that ‘the vote was decisive’ is infuriating’ – Sally, 28, designer, Glasgow
Unsure of the idea of a second referendum, but voted yes to independence and would do so again
I’m unsure about the idea of a referendum because I don’t think holding them is a good way to govern. These are not black and white decisions. There is so much grey that a referendum does not allow for. Also, I’m not sure I could face losing a third referendum.
Membership of the EU was the only thing I was worried about losing in 2014 – if England is taking that from us anyway it would be a yes to independence again for me. But I’d want this to be on a more conclusive basis than how both the 2014 referendum and Brexit were decided. Hearing again and again that “the vote was decisive” and “the people have spoken” is infuriating. To enforce a major change, I feel the vote for change should be supported by, say, at least 65% of the population. I’m also unsure whether this is winnable by the yes camp just now. Holding a second referendum and losing will likely put the issue to bed for a long time. Perhaps I’ll just have to fight even harder than before.
Rather than having our MPs and MSPs continually fighting against the Tories, I’d like to see a self-governing Scotland in which we might be able to develop a stronger and more balanced political landscape for ourselves, including a more prominent right in Scotland. I think this balance is important. I feel that change and reformation of the political classes will never happen within the UK system (it’s too entrenched in tradition). Call me an optimist (or young and foolish) but the founding of a new-old country sounds like a fantastic opportunity to get it right.
- Some names have been changed
