Why has Brexit failed to boost support for Scottish independence? / UK Government preparing for Nicola Sturgeon to demand indyref2 / Independent Scotland ‘would have to apply for EU membership’

In the immediate aftermath of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, several opinion polls showed a majority of people in Scotland would vote for independence in a hypothetical second referendum. However, as Sean Swan writes, the polling in recent months has shown a consistent majority of respondents opposing independence. He isolates three key reasons why Brexit has not resulted in the boost for independence that some observers had anticipated.

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News sources in February and March 2017 suggested that Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon might call for a second referendum on independence for Scotland at a SNP conference in March 2017.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Why Scottish nationalists won’t see Article 50 ruling as a defeat http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-scottish-nationalists-wont-see-article-50-ruling-as-a-defeat/

ESO: Background information: Nicola Sturgeon opening address to #SNP16, Glasgow, 13 October 2016 | First step towards a second independence referendum for Scotland http://www.europeansources.info/record/nicola-sturgeon-opening-address-to-snp16-glasgow-13-october-2016-first-step-towards-a-second-independence-referendum-for-scotland/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

CAPX, 02.02.17: A second Scottish referendum is now an inevitability https://capx.co/a-second-scottish-referendum-is-now-an-inevitability/?omhide=true

Politico, 08.02.17: Support for Scottish independence spikes as May braces for second referendum http://www.politico.eu/article/support-for-scottish-independence-spikes-as-may-braces-for-second-referendum/

The Courier, 08.02.17: UK Government preparing for Nicola Sturgeon to demand indyref2 https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/365652/exclusive-uk-government-preparing-nicola-sturgeon-demand-indyref2/

The Guardian, 10.02.17: Independent Scotland 'would have to apply for EU membership' https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/10/independent-scotland-would-have-to-apply-for-eu-membership

New Statesman, 21.02.17: Constitutional expert: Scottish independence 'sweet deal' for EU http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/02/constitutional-expert-scottish-independence-sweet-deal-eu

EurActiv, 03.03.17: Scottish nationalists treat politics like a game, says May http://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/scottish-nationalists-treat-politics-like-a-game-says-may/

The Guardian, 12.03.17: Scotland is heading for a second independence poll. Is a Yes vote any more likely? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/12/scotland-second-referendum-brexit-could-it-backfire

BBC News, 11.03.17: Scottish independence: Jeremy Corbyn says indyref2 'absolutely fine' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39244890

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