Scottish independence: Boris Johnson pushes back against IndyRef2
Boris Johnson has said it would be “irresponsible and reckless” to hold a second independence referendum as the possibility of an outright majority in the Holyrood elections for the Scottish National party remains on a knife-edge on Saturday morning. With an SNP victory now assured after the first day of counting, the scene is set for a clash with Downing Street as the party’s leader, Nicola Sturgeon , warned Johnson that he would “have to go to court” to stop her new government introducing legislation for another referendum. But as Sturgeon said she would do so “when the time is right” if a pro-independence majority is achieved once the rest of the results are declared, Johnson told the Daily Telegraph: “I think a referendum in the current context is irresponsible and reckless.” Referencing the work of the armed services and the furlough scheme, Johnson insisted: “I think there’s been an eloquent testimonial during the pandemic to the power of the union.” It remains in the balance