LONDON (UK) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Monday that the country would be weaker if the union that binds its four nations were broken.
Discord between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England over the handling of the pandemic has damaged relations which were already strained because of Brexit.
Scotland voted against leaving the EU and opinion polls reveal support for independence narrowly outweighs support for its three-centuries-old union with England.
“The union of the United Kingdom is, for me, it’s the greatest political partnership the world has ever seen,” Johnson said when asked about the union.
“It would be such a shame to lose the power, the magic of that union.”
In 2014, 55 per cent of Scots voted against independence in a referendum while 45 per cent wanted to break away from the union. However, the Scottish National Party, which runs the semi-autonomous nation, wants another referendum to be held.
The ruling Conservative Party strongly supports the union and dismisses any call for a referendum.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field