London (AFP)
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday reaffirmed his opposition to the holding of a new referendum on Scottish independence, ardently desired by the head of the Scottish government, who wants Scotland, once independent, to join the 'European Union.
"In my experience, referendums in this country are not particularly happy events," Boris Johnson told the BBC, alluding to deep divisions caused by the Brexit referendum in 2016, which the camp won 52% of "Leave".
In 1975, the British had been consulted on the retention of their country in the EEC.
Forty-one years away seems "a good gap", said Boris Johnson.
For the conservative leader, referendums should only be allowed "once per generation".
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Saturday that she hoped Scotland would gain independence and be able to "join" the European Union, stressing that Brexit was done against the wishes of the Scots.
While the British as a whole voted 51.9% for Brexit in 2016, the Scots were 62% opposed to leaving the European Union.
Ms Sturgeon again pleaded for a referendum on Scottish independence, after one lost by her camp in 2014, when 55% of Scots said 'no' to independence.
"We did not want to leave and we hope to join you soon as an equal partner," said Sturgeon, on the website of her independence party, the SNP.
According to the latest poll conducted by the Savanta ComRes institute for The Scotsman newspaper in mid-December, 58% of Scots now support an unprecedented break with the United Kingdom.
But the decision to hold such a referendum rests with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who firmly refuses.
Nevertheless, a large SNP victory in the local elections next May would increase the pressure on London to accept a new consultation.
© 2021 AFP