Scottish government issues new paper on independence

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - The Scottish government on Thursday published a new paper on independence, arguing that Scotland is in a voluntary union with the rest of the UK and that only the Scottish people should decide the country's constitutional future.

In his foreword to the document, First Minister John Swinney said that for decades politicians of all political backgrounds had "supported the idea that it is for the people who live in Scotland alone to make the choice about the future of Scotland as a country."

The paper cites statements from former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Theresa May to support its case and criticizes the UK government for what it described as "erosion of respect for devolution and the continued bypassing of the Scottish Parliament" since Brexit.

It also revives arguments that Scotland should be afforded the same constitutional mechanism as Northern Ireland, which allows for a border poll if the secretary of state deems there is sufficient public demand.

Swinney argued that the "failure of the UK economic model" strengthens the case for giving Scots another chance to choose their future.

"Of course, as a country, after hearing all the arguments, we may decide that things are best left as they are: that would be a legitimate democratic choice," he said.

In a September 2014 referendum, Scotland voted against becoming an independent country by 55% to 45%. Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon proposed a new referendum in 2022, but the UK Supreme Court ruled that the Scottish parliament cannot hold a second independence referendum without Westminster approval.