Scottish National Party rallies supporters ahead of divisive snap election

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will address a pro-independence rally in Glasgow today, just days after Britain’s parliament voted in favour of a snap national election to be held on December 12.

The Scottish independence movement could reignite divisions in next month’s vote. In the last Scottish independence referendum, which was held in September 2014, Scots voted ‘no’ 55% to 45%. During the Scottish National Party’s (SNP’s) annual conference on October 15, Sturgeon called for another independence referendum ahead of 2021 elections.

The SNP has advocated for the UK to stay within the EU. It is currently the third largest party in Parliament and is likely to retain or even improve its position in the upcoming election. Given divisions within the Conservative and Labour parties on Brexit, the SNP could play a decisive role in the case of a hung Parliament. Brexit itself would remain uncertain in this scenario.

Should the Conservatives fall short on approving a Brexit deal within a margin of 10 votes, PM Boris Johnson would likely lobby smaller parties for support, making the SNP bloc irrelevant. Meanwhile, as Johnson’s Brexit deal with the EU was rejected by Parliament, the broader UK public can be expected to favour the Conservatives in December.