Scottish plebiscite call threatens hard-Brexit

British Prime Minster Theresa May is facing political fights not only in Brussels over Brexit, at home, she’s bracing for Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to call a second referendum on independence.
In 2014, Scotland rejected independence from UK by 55-to-45 votes. But the recent survey shows that margin is narrowing. Only 51 percent of Scots favour to stay within the UK and 49 percent want to leave.
Earlier this month, the Scottish Parliament voted by 90 to 34 against triggering Article 50, a formal mechanism by UK to start leaving EU. Sturgeon is leading the opposition against what she called the catastrophic hard Brexit now being pursued by Theresa May. Although May is opposed to a second referendum on Scottish independence, her reluctance to accede to a plebiscite risks sparking a domestic political fight.
Sturgeon said Scotland may have no choice but to go its own way if the Scottish Parliament is to keep its existing powers over such things as health care, education and some taxation.
She further said that a decision on independence wouldn’t simply be legitimate, it would almost be a necessary way of giving the people of Scotland a say in their own future direction. She said that if UK government does not compromise, referendum is the only way in which the voice of Scots are heard and interests protected. A second independence referendum in Scotland could add to political uncertainty in the UK in coming months.
According to Sturgeon, Scotland has no choice other than another vote on independence to protect the country’s interests if the UK fails to soften its plan to leave the European Union and its single market. Scotland has been pushing to remain inside Europe’s single market and so called on May to abandon hard Brexit talks, which would allow Scotland to maintain key components of EU membership. But May’s ministers have now made it clear they don’t intend to seek continued single-market membership in their talks on a post-Brexit deal with the EU.
Given the facts on the ground, it would be better for UK government to accommodate Scots demand or risks political mess. Sturgeon has been attempting to win over opponents of independence with the argument that the interests of Scots are being sidelined as UK moves to begin formal divorce. Sturgeon said factions in the UK Parliament want to use Brexit as an excuse to undermine her semi-autonomous government. The growing feeling in Scotland is that it may be unavoidable should the UK continue on the current Brexit path. Sturgeon apparently inching towards another referendum as recent polls show support is tilting slightly in her favour. But it remains far from clear that holding another referendum would have a different result from the previous one.
On the other hand, UK had made its stance clear on leaving the EU. For her part, May remains opposed to a second referendum on Scottish independence. London government accused Sturgeon of misrepresenting the UK position. She is just pursuing the policy of taking Scotland out of the United Kingdom for a political mileage.
After a report that Scotland’s government is preparing to call another vote, dollar dipped. Though the report is highly speculative and pound fell against all its major peers, there is a doubt that it will have a lasting negative impact on the pound.