Indyref2: Same Yes/No question should be asked, says Sturgeon

Scots should be asked the same Yes/No question about independence that they answered in 2014 when another vote is held, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Scots should be asked the same Yes/No question about independence that they answered in 2014 when another vote is held, Nicola Sturgeon has said. Picture: Southern Reporter

After announcing her intention to hold another independence referendum between autumn next year and spring 2019, the Scottish First Minister insisted she could “see no reason” why the question should be different this time around.

In 2014 Scots were asked: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” and told to give an answer of Yes or No.

Although the final wording of the question will be subject to the approval of the Electoral Commission – which intervened in 2014 to ensure that it did not prompt voters to reach a particular conclusion – Ms Sturgeon said her intention was to make no changes.

Work underway on ‘Yes2’

“I would see no reason why it wasn’t the same question as the last time,” she said in response to a question following her statement.

Any change in the question would be important. In 2014 the Yes campaign built a successful grassroots movement in favour of independence and work is already underway on “Yes2”.

No associated with negativity

Some feel the Yes/No question is unfair on the pro-Union side, as answering “Yes” is a more positive response whereas “No” can be associated with negativity.

In 2015 the Electoral Commission asked the Government to change the wording of the EU referendum so the answer was Remain or Leave rather than Yes or No.

At a press conference at her official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon confirmed she intends to ask the UK Government for permission to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence.

The SNP leader said it was important to give Scottish voters a “choice” between remaining part of the UK outside the EU and independence, saying her hand had been forced by the Government’s intransigence.

‘Majority of people in Scotland do want second referendum’

She said the decision would be between “whether to follow the UK to a hard Brexit, or to become an independent country able to secure a real partnership of equals with the rest of the UK and our own relationship with Europe”. Responding to Ms Sturgeon’s comments, a UK Government spokesman said: “Only a little over two years ago people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of our United Kingdom in a referendum which the Scottish Government defined as a ‘once in a generation’ vote.

“The evidence clearly shows that a majority of people in Scotland do not want a second independence referendum. “Another referendum would be divisive and cause huge economic uncertainty at the worst possible time.

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