British local elections: in Scotland, economic recovery first
Audio 01:14
Nicola Sturgeon during her campaign in Giffnock, west of Glasgow, Scotland on April 28, 2021. REUTERS - POOL
Text by: RFI Follow
6 mins
British voters go to the polls this Thursday, May 6 for the local elections.
In Scotland, it is a question of renewing the Parliament of Edinburgh.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon hopes to win a large majority to demand a new independence referendum in Boris Johnson's government.
But for the Scots, the timing is far from ideal.
Report from Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland which voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence in 2014.
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With our special correspondent in Glasgow,
Muriel Delcroix
Since the pubs reopened at the end of April, the inhabitants of Glasgow have reinvested the terraces despite the bitter cold. The city is a stronghold of independence, the stronghold of Nicola Sturgeon, and many residents will vote SNP. Thornwood Bar owner Mark Ferrier also aspires to a free Scotland but not now: “
For us, the most important thing is the pub, we have between 15 and 20 employees and we have to protect their jobs. My wife was fired in October. What we need is a solid economic recovery, independence or not.
"
By his side, his brother-in-law and partner Fraser Hamilton admits to having been scalded by Brexit.
“
If there was a referendum on independence,
” he said, “
I don't yet know what I would vote for.
Given how Brexit went, I worry more about the possible consequences of independence.
I would like to be presented with a method, a roadmap on how to get there, if that's what people want…
”
While the idea of a free Scotland continues to appeal to many voters in absolute terms, Brexit and the pandemic have reshuffled the cards, and while focusing its campaign on a second referendum, the SNP had to chomp on the brakes and now only considers it in 2 or 3 years.
► To read also:
The Scottish separatists aim for an absolute majority during the legislative elections
Brexit, a major stake in the campaign
This is the hope and the major campaign argument of the Scottish separatists: with a victory, the commitment to obtain a new referendum on independence.
Boris Johnson may well repeat that he is opposed to it, the Prime Minister will not be able to escape it, this is what their current leader repeats.
Nicola Sturgeon who dangles in the Scots, overwhelmingly against Brexit, independence followed by a return to the European fold.
Haloed by what is perceived as good management of the pandemic, the head of the SNP may yet have trouble carrying the majority alone.
The tears in his camp have taken their toll.
To stay in power, Nicola Sturgeon will then have to rely on the party of her former mentor who has become an opponent, but also on environmentalists.
The only time the SNP won a majority in the Scottish Parliament was in 2011. The then British Prime Minister, David Cameron, bowed to the pressure and agreed to hold an independence referendum in 2014. At l 'after the count, the "no" had won with 55% of the votes cast.
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