British EU exit would force Scotland split, says Deputy PM Clegg
[LONDON] Scotland would break away from the rest of the United Kingdom "within a heartbeat" if Britain left the European Union, British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said on Thursday, warning against plans to hold an EU referendum by the end of 2017.
The comment from the leader of the junior coalition partner Liberal Democrats was aimed at Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, who has promised to put Britain's continuing EU membership to a public vote if he wins a May 7 general election.
"As night follows day, if the UK falls out of the European Union, Scotland, in my view, within a heartbeat, will pull out of the UK. We will - then have lost two unions in one parliament," Mr Clegg told reporters.
Scotland voted against independence in a referendum last September but a surge in nationalist sentiment since then has boosted the Scottish National Party (SNP) and is expected to see them make strong gains in May's ballot.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has previously said that Britain withdrawing from the EU against Scotland's will would be democratically indefensible.
REUTERS
KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
Sri Lanka’s economy expected to grow 3% in 2024, central bank says
Yellen says US can bring inflation down without hurting jobs
US dollar briefly falls versus yen after GDP data
US weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fall
US economic growth slows more than expected in Q1
Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir facing anti-graft probe in a case involving his sons