The Point

Last updated: 27 June 2022.

Solidarity calls on Nicola: Name the Date

Pro-independence socialist party Solidarity has called on Nicola Sturgeon to announce a date for IndyRef2, a second Scottish Independence Referendum.

Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the SNP and First Minister stated before the Scottish Parliamentary elections that another vote on independence could be triggered if Scotland voted to stay in the EU but the overall result across the UK was for Brexit.

In a joint statement Rosemary Byrne and Pat Lee, co-convenors of Solidarity, which attracted the largest socialist vote in the Scottish elections, said:

“Solidarity calls on Nicola Sturgeon as a matter of urgency to announce the date of the second Scottish Independence referendum – no ifs, buts or ‘options’. The people of Scotland elected her and her party on the promise of indyref2 and now it’s time to honour that promise. A whopping 62% of Scots voted to remain in the EU.

We consider that a date in or before 2018 would be suitable – certainly no later. April 6th 2020 should be our target date for Scottish Independence Day, marking 700 years since the Declaration of Arbroath.

Solidarity campaigned for Lexit, Left Exit from the EU for very different reasons from those of the right-wing Leave and Brexit groups. Nevertheless, the people of Scotland have spoken and demanded that we remain. That is also a demand for indyref2.”