Inside Story

Can Scotland become independent?

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says divorce with the European Union happened against Scotland’s will.

After eight months of negotiations and seven days before the Brexit deadline – the European Union and the United Kingdom finally reached a trade and security deal.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls it an agreement that will help the UK take control of its destiny.

But in Scotland, pro-independence leader Nicola Sturgeon says it is time for the country to become an “independent European nation”.

The First Minister tweeted that Brexit is happening is “against Scotland’s will”.

In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 62 percent of voters in Scotland opted to remain in the EU.

Since then, calls for independence have grown.

Now Sturgeon’s party is expected to head into next year’s Holyrood elections, seeking a new mandate for a second independence vote.

But will an independent Scotland be allowed to join the EU?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Mo Hussein – political commentator and former special adviser at the UK Home Office

Karel Lannoo – CEO at the Centre for European Policy Studies

Jonathan Lis – policy analyst and deputy director at British Influence