LONDON- On Friday, British PM Boris Johnson told Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon he wouldn’t support her plan for a second independence referendum. This clash came shortly after the two leaders emerged victorious from a national election.
Sturgeon had earlier that day demanded a second independence referendum after the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) better-than-expected performance securing 48 out of Scotland’s 59 seats in the U.K. parliament in London.
The Conservatives emerged victorious in Thursday’s election, and Johnson spoke to Sturgeon later in the day and said he would not agree to another independence vote, after Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK in a 2014 vote.
“The Prime Minister made clear how he remained opposed to a second independence referendum, standing with the majority of people in Scotland who do not want to return to division and uncertainty,” Johnson’s office said in a statement.
“He added how the result of the 2014 referendum was decisive and should be respected.”
Sturgeon responded shortly after on Twitter, saying she had told the prime minister that her political mandate to give people a choice must be respected, “just as he expects his mandate to be respected”.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.