Rishi Sunak says no to Scotland’s new demand for independence

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday rejected incoming Scottish Prime Minister Humza Yousaf’s call for a new independence referendum, hot on the heels of the former health secretary. became the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and successor to Nicola Sturgeon.

According to a statement by Sunak’s spokesperson, Scots and Britons at large want politicians who “will focus on the issues that matter most to them: reducing inflation, tackling the cost of life and reduce waiting times in public health services”. system”.

Yousaf was formally elected by a majority of Scottish MPs on Tuesday, having beaten SNP rival Kate Forbes by 52% to 48% of the vote on Monday. His name will then be submitted to King Charles and a formal session to have him sworn in is expected at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

He is the first ethnic minority Prime Minister and the first Muslim to become the leader of a major political party in the UK. He promised to work with his rival candidates, saying: “We will be the team, we will be the generation that delivers independence to Scotland.”

But Yousaf faces an uphill battle as a new independence referendum is unlikely to happen with declared opposition from the British government and stagnant support for the cause among Scottish voters.

In his victory speech on Monday, Yousaf said: “To those in Scotland who do not yet share this passion I share for independence, I will aim to earn your trust by continuing to ensure that we govern well. [and] focus on the priorities that matter to all of us.

Yousaf, who will also become Scotland’s youngest ever leader, has pledged to continue Sturgeon’s policies, including fighting the UK Government’s blocking of the Holyrood Gender Recognition Bill and supporting the cause of independence. But many have expressed concern that Yousaf’s alleged lack of charisma compared to his predecessor Sturgeon would make it harder for him to deflect support for Scottish independence.