Hamza’s passion for freedom
After winning on Monday, Hamza said in his speech, ‘ Those who are in Scotland and who have not yet given up the passion of independence, I have come with the aim of winning the trust of all of you. I assure you that we will govern properly and focus on the priorities that are important to us. Hamza has vowed to advance the policies of former leader Nicola Sturgeon, from blocking Holyrood’s gender identity bill from the UK government to furthering the cause of independence.
A referendum was held in 2014
Many people have expressed concern over this demand of Yusuf. He says that the charisma which was there in Nicola, is not visible in Yusuf. In such a situation, it is difficult for them to gather support for the independence of Scotland. UK PM Sunak is willing to work with Hamza but will not allow him to vote afresh for independence. In September 2014, Scottish voters were given a choice between the UK and Scotland. 55 percent of the people chose the UK and only 45 percent had decided to stay in Scotland.
Unsuccessful attempt in 2016 as well
Nicola then demanded another referendum. This happened in the year 2016 at the exact time when there was voting on Brexit in Britain. It was named Indref 2. In its results, 62 percent of people talked about living in the UK, while 38 percent agreed to make Scotland a separate country. Sturgeon has repeatedly called on the UK government to hold another referendum, but each time it has been turned down. Hamza’s party, the SNP, currently holds a pro-independence majority in the devolved parliament with the Scottish Greens.
Supreme Court also turned down the demand
According to the party, the electoral success and the vote on Brexit is an ironclad mandate to hold another referendum. At the same time, the UK government has been saying that this referendum will never be able to get formal consent which is known under Article 30. Sturgeon had talked about an agreement with the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson in July 2022 but he refused to accept it. The UK Supreme Court completely rejected Sturgeon’s demand for a referendum. Sturgeon campaigned for Scottish independence for almost a decade, but could not succeed. Now Hamza is also on his way and to what extent he will be successful in this, only time will tell.