Leading experts examine the key issues, opportunities and challenges surrounding the prospect of independence since UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
In September 2020, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans for an independence referendum. Amid a rise in support for independence in opinion polls, she pledged to publish draft legislation on the timing, terms and question of a new referendum prior to the May 2021 elections. Voters in Scotland could once again be asked to reflect on the pros and cons of independence versus staying in the UK, and what this means for Scotland’s economy, society, and politics. Yet, the need to manage the Covid crisis and the challenges it presents has left little space to explore independence and its possible consequences. This collection begins to fill that space. It builds upon the success of a previous e-book produced in advance of the 2014 independence referendum. Then, as now, we do not take a stand on the question of whether or not Scotland should be an independent country. Instead, we have drawn together leading experts to examine the key issues, opportunities and challenges surrounding the prospect of independence. Much has changed since the 2014 referendum – most notably, the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. By providing factual information and impartial analysis, we hope that the book can support citizens to engage in debates and make up their own minds about Scotland’s future.
ISBN 978-1-8384433-1-3