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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/24/rest-of-uk-spoken-for-us-scottish-readers-brexit-independence
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| 'I'm now hoping for independence': Scottish readers on Brexit | 'I'm now hoping for independence': Scottish readers on Brexit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scotland has voted decisively to stay in the EU, demonstrating a clear political divide between UK countries over the results of the referendum. | Scotland has voted decisively to stay in the EU, demonstrating a clear political divide between UK countries over the results of the referendum. |
| Remain won in Scotland by 62% to 38%, with all 32 council areas backing staying in the EU. England voted for leave. | |
| Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish National party leader, said legal preparations would begin for a second Scottish independence referendum after Scotland “delivered a strong, unequivocal vote to remain in the EU, and I welcome that endorsement of our European status”. | |
| In a statement on Friday morning, she said: “I want to make it absolutely clear today that I intend to take all possible steps and explore all options to secure our place in the EU and the single market in particular.” | In a statement on Friday morning, she said: “I want to make it absolutely clear today that I intend to take all possible steps and explore all options to secure our place in the EU and the single market in particular.” |
| Analysts predict that the SNP will soon demand another referendum so that the electorate in Scotland has a chance to vote for an independent country that would be able to stay in the European Union. The future, however, is unclear. | |
| We asked Scottish voters for their reaction to the result and to the divide. Here are some of their views: | |
| ‘Yet again, the rest of the country has spoken for us’ | ‘Yet again, the rest of the country has spoken for us’ |
| This morning I feel bleak. Fortunately, every region in Scotland predominantly voted to remain within the EU. However, yet again, the rest of the country has spoken for us. There is now a lot of worry and uncertainty in the air. | This morning I feel bleak. Fortunately, every region in Scotland predominantly voted to remain within the EU. However, yet again, the rest of the country has spoken for us. There is now a lot of worry and uncertainty in the air. |
| Despite the result of the 2014 independence referendum, both this referendum and the 2015 general election have cemented Scotland’s desire to leave the UK and remain a part of the European Union. Hopefully this is enough to encourage Nicola Sturgeon and the government to facilitate a second independence referendum, in which I’m certain there would be a resounding yes vote this time around.Siobhan Newsome, 22, Edinburgh | Despite the result of the 2014 independence referendum, both this referendum and the 2015 general election have cemented Scotland’s desire to leave the UK and remain a part of the European Union. Hopefully this is enough to encourage Nicola Sturgeon and the government to facilitate a second independence referendum, in which I’m certain there would be a resounding yes vote this time around.Siobhan Newsome, 22, Edinburgh |
| ‘I’ll change my vote to yes in a second independence referendum’ | ‘I’ll change my vote to yes in a second independence referendum’ |
| We voted to remain. As a citizen of not only Scotland but of the UK, I am absolutely devastated. The people of Scotland have clearly united in their disappointment for leaving the EU. I feel it is so unfair that now the future of the UK is in jeopardy. Scotland will call for a second independence referendum and we will vote to leave the UK. I voted no in the first one – I’ll be voting yes in the second.Anon, 19, East Lothian | We voted to remain. As a citizen of not only Scotland but of the UK, I am absolutely devastated. The people of Scotland have clearly united in their disappointment for leaving the EU. I feel it is so unfair that now the future of the UK is in jeopardy. Scotland will call for a second independence referendum and we will vote to leave the UK. I voted no in the first one – I’ll be voting yes in the second.Anon, 19, East Lothian |
| ‘Scotland’s views are totally irrelevant to the rest of the UK’ | ‘Scotland’s views are totally irrelevant to the rest of the UK’ |
| Like the rest of Scotland, Stirling, where I live, voted to remain. I’m not surprised by this – but was taken aback that two-thirds voted to stay with Brussels. | Like the rest of Scotland, Stirling, where I live, voted to remain. I’m not surprised by this – but was taken aback that two-thirds voted to stay with Brussels. |
| We have a government we didn’t vote for holding a referendum that we didn’t want and are now being taken out of the EU against our will. Even the pro-unionists from 2014 are shocked and deeply unhappy. | We have a government we didn’t vote for holding a referendum that we didn’t want and are now being taken out of the EU against our will. Even the pro-unionists from 2014 are shocked and deeply unhappy. |
| I really wasn’t passionate about it one way or the other, but I am now stunned it ended with a leave vote. It will be a very interesting few days/weeks/months to come. My feeling is that it’s going to lead to a second independence referendum, because once again it has been shown that Scotland’s views are totally irrelevant to the rest of the UK.Anon, 25, Stirling | I really wasn’t passionate about it one way or the other, but I am now stunned it ended with a leave vote. It will be a very interesting few days/weeks/months to come. My feeling is that it’s going to lead to a second independence referendum, because once again it has been shown that Scotland’s views are totally irrelevant to the rest of the UK.Anon, 25, Stirling |
| ‘I will move somewhere more accepting’ | ‘I will move somewhere more accepting’ |
| I feel shocked and let down by the politicians that allowed this to happen. My future feels so uncertain now. I entered university with a view to being a graduate in the EU – a place that opened up new opportunity, diversity and collective ideals. I feel more passionately now about moving away from the UK to another country that is more accepting and willing to see the bigger picture.Zoe, 21, Glasgow | I feel shocked and let down by the politicians that allowed this to happen. My future feels so uncertain now. I entered university with a view to being a graduate in the EU – a place that opened up new opportunity, diversity and collective ideals. I feel more passionately now about moving away from the UK to another country that is more accepting and willing to see the bigger picture.Zoe, 21, Glasgow |
| ‘I was against Scottish independence, but am tempted to reconsider’ | ‘I was against Scottish independence, but am tempted to reconsider’ |
| Edinburgh had a large majority for remain and I am very angry with the people who have been taken in by the populist rhetoric of the leave campaign. I am also angry with David Cameron for holding the referendum in the first place – this is no way to decide on important issues. Everyone I know is devastated. I am very worried about the future direction of British politics and I am also concerned about whether several work colleagues from EU countries will even want to stay here now. | Edinburgh had a large majority for remain and I am very angry with the people who have been taken in by the populist rhetoric of the leave campaign. I am also angry with David Cameron for holding the referendum in the first place – this is no way to decide on important issues. Everyone I know is devastated. I am very worried about the future direction of British politics and I am also concerned about whether several work colleagues from EU countries will even want to stay here now. |
| I was proud to be an EU citizen as it seemed to me that the EU symbolised an effort to break free of the past and move forward to a better more peaceful world. There will be a lot more arguments and it seems likely there will be a realignment in British politics as well ask a vote for Scottish independence. I have been very much against this up to now, but if there is another vote I will be tempted to reconsider.Sheila Perry, 68, Edinburgh | I was proud to be an EU citizen as it seemed to me that the EU symbolised an effort to break free of the past and move forward to a better more peaceful world. There will be a lot more arguments and it seems likely there will be a realignment in British politics as well ask a vote for Scottish independence. I have been very much against this up to now, but if there is another vote I will be tempted to reconsider.Sheila Perry, 68, Edinburgh |
| ‘We feel low, and ashamed to be British’ | ‘We feel low, and ashamed to be British’ |
| I am gutted with the result as a whole, but there is some respite in the fact that at least my country hasn’t voted for it. There were a few tears shed upon waking up this morning – we feel low, and ashamed to be British. Personally I’m embarrassed, but hoping for either Scottish independence or that we are allowed to stay part of EU, a bit like a reverse Greenland.Anon, 30, Glasgow | I am gutted with the result as a whole, but there is some respite in the fact that at least my country hasn’t voted for it. There were a few tears shed upon waking up this morning – we feel low, and ashamed to be British. Personally I’m embarrassed, but hoping for either Scottish independence or that we are allowed to stay part of EU, a bit like a reverse Greenland.Anon, 30, Glasgow |
| ‘I hope this is now the catalyst’ | ‘I hope this is now the catalyst’ |
| I’m in shock and disbelief. We voted 62% to remain in the EU, but this overwhelming result counts for nothing. It’s weird. I actually felt worse than when we lost the independence vote, which puts into perspective how devastating this is, and just how far apart Scotland stands from the rest of Britain. We need to leave. We have a responsibility to ourselves to turn that difference in political viewpoint into real change for Scotland. We cannot be politically dragged around by the scruff of the neck by people we didn’t vote for and whose views are the polar opposite of our own any longer. I hope this is now the catalyst. I fear for us if we do not. I fully expect Scotland to become an independent nation within the EU. If we don’t, I genuinely fear for what will happen in our name. Mo, 40, Edinburgh | I’m in shock and disbelief. We voted 62% to remain in the EU, but this overwhelming result counts for nothing. It’s weird. I actually felt worse than when we lost the independence vote, which puts into perspective how devastating this is, and just how far apart Scotland stands from the rest of Britain. We need to leave. We have a responsibility to ourselves to turn that difference in political viewpoint into real change for Scotland. We cannot be politically dragged around by the scruff of the neck by people we didn’t vote for and whose views are the polar opposite of our own any longer. I hope this is now the catalyst. I fear for us if we do not. I fully expect Scotland to become an independent nation within the EU. If we don’t, I genuinely fear for what will happen in our name. Mo, 40, Edinburgh |
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