COVID-19 overshadows independence in key Scottish election – KIRO 7 Information Seattle

EYEMOUTH, Scotland – (AP) – James Cook was an avid supporter of Scottish independence, but now he’s not so sure.

With Scotland holding an election Thursday that could be a stepping stone to the dissolution of the UK, the seafood wholesaler has more pressing issues on its mind. The UK’s exit from the European Union and the coronavirus pandemic have created economic upheaval, and he says it is not the time to bet on independence.

“A third major event could be catastrophic for us,” said Cook.

The question of independence overshadows the Scottish Parliament election with 129 seats. The Scottish National Party, which has led a minority government since 2016, says a major victory will give it the moral right and political momentum to hold a referendum on whether Scotland should end its union with 300th century England.

Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom in a 2014 independence referendum, which was billed as a one-off decision at the time. However, SNP boss Nicola Sturgeon argues that Brexit has fundamentally changed the situation by pulling Scotland out of the European Union against his will. The UK as a whole narrowly voted to leave the bloc in 2016, but a majority of Scottish voters wanted to stay in the EU.

Sturgeon says if she wins a majority on Thursday she will have the power to pass laws through the Scottish Parliament for a new independence referendum, forcing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to challenge the law in court if he wants to stop it.

Johnson opposed a new vote, insisting on Wednesday that “this is not the time for a ruthless and, in my opinion, irresponsible second referendum”.

Elections will also take place on Thursday for the Welsh Assembly, the Mayor of London and local authorities across England. This is the biggest test of Britain’s political temperature since Johnson’s Conservatives won a general election in 2019.

According to polls, it is almost certain that the SNP will win the most seats in Scotland’s semi-autonomous parliament, but may not get an overall majority.

For some voters, independence has been replaced by more pressing concerns – not the least of which is COVID-19, which has cost thousands of jobs and caused more than 7,600 deaths in this country of 5.5 million people.

Brexit has also made some reconsider. Years of divorce negotiations between Britain and the much larger EU turned out to be more difficult than promised by British Brexit supporters – a foretaste of how a future split between Britain and Scotland could develop. New post-Brexit trade barriers to trade with Europe have affected Scottish business, including seafood exporters.

“Companies are really behind at the moment,” said Cook, who runs fish vendor DR Collin & Son in Eyemouth Harbor near the Scottish-English border. “I think if you talk to someone who is business-minded they will be a little careful.”

Cook said he still supports independence in the long term, but there are “many issues that we need clarity on” first.

Sturgeon downplayed independence in their campaign, highlighting their credentials as a safe pair of hands to advance Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.

“I am the only candidate for the first minister to offer proven leadership to lead us through the crisis and recovery,” said Sturgeon in an open letter to Scottish voters that made no mention of independence.

Sturgeon, who has headed Scotland since 2014, has improved her reputation through her response to COVID-19. Her calm, clear style contrasts with the erratic news and frequent policy changes from Johnson, whose chic, polysyllabic English is noticed by many Scots.

Because of their popularity, Scotland’s two major union-friendly parties, the Conservatives and the Labor Party, vied for second place. Both parties have seen their polls decline in recent years. However, both are hoping for a comeback under new leaders Anas Sarwar for Labor and Douglas Ross for the Conservatives.

On the other flank of Sturgeon is the uncompromisingly independent former SNP leader Alex Salmond. He and Sturgeon are former friends and political allies who fought on misconduct allegations against Salmond, who was tried and acquitted of sexual assault last year.

Salmond says the allegations were part of a witch hunt carried out by his political opponents and attacked the Scottish government and Sturgeon for dealing with them.

In March Salmond announced that he would create a new party for independence, Alba – the Scottish Gaelic word for Scotland. Alba does not run against the SNP in the 73 constituencies of Scotland, but instead nominates candidates for the regional competition to elect the other 56 legislators. Salmond says Alba seats will help create an independent “super majority” in the Scottish Parliament.

Salmond is a great figure in Scottish politics who became the first minister to hold the first independence referendum in 2014. However, his attempts to stay in the limelight – including hosting a talk show on Kremlin-funded RT TV – and sexual abuse allegations have tarnished him.

According to polls, voters have limited appetite for Alba’s breast-beating style of Scottish nationalism and are more in line with Sturgeon’s slow approach.

“I fully understand the emotional appeal of independence,” said indecisive voter Olive Burnside, a retired English teacher in Glasgow. “And besides, I’d like to be free from the many idiots – well, corrupt people – we have in (the UK government in) Westminster right now.

“So my heart says, ‘Oh yeah, it would be great. ‘But my head just wonders about the economic side of things, about managing such a small country. “

Mark Diffley, an Edinburgh political pollster, said “there is very little support, even among independence supporters”, for an early referendum.

“The economic prospectus for independence is not really worth the paper it is on right now, as COVID has just put an earthquake at the center of all economic forecasts,” he said.

“I think everyone will be fine to let this sort of thing – to put the dust on the elections, focus on economic and social recovery from the pandemic, and bring up the independence issue a little later.”

___

Jill Lawless reported from London and Renee Graham also reported from Glasgow.