Scottish Election 2021: Nicola Sturgeon arrives at polling station as party leaders cast votes
The First Minister was all smiles as she greeted supporters and voters outside the Annette Street school in Govanhill, Glasgow, this morning, May 6.
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Ian McConnell: Independence debate: Should we care if Royal Bank of Scotland owner NatWest moves head office to London?
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Alison Rose said the bank’s balance sheet ‘would be too big for an independent Scottish economy’ Picture: Nick Ansell/PA Wire By Ian McConnell THE chief executive of the major UK financial institution known formerly as Royal Bank of Scotland seemed entirely undaunted last week as she took centre stage in the febrile Holyrood election drama. What seemed particularly notable was the degree to which Alison Rose, who last year presided over the renaming of the institution as NatWest Group at holding company level, did not hold back when asked the head office question. The burning question, regarding the bank’s strategy should the Scottish election return a majority victory for the SNP and ultimately lead to a referendum on Scottish independence, was posed by The Herald’s deputy business editor, Scott Wright.
Brexit sparks renewed calls for Scottish independence
Securing a second vote on secession is easier said than done, though. Before a legally watertight ballot can be sanctioned, the Scottish government must request a so-called Section 30 order from London, the legal apparatus that authorized Scotland s 2014 referendum.
This, in Sturgeon s mind, is the gold standard for securing indyref2 but Boris Johnson isn t so keen. Though UK-wide public opinion looks to be shifting on the question of a second vote, the British prime minister has repeatedly rejected calls for a rerun referendum, arguing that a full generation must first elapse.
Could Sturgeon up the political pressure?
By Mark Diffley
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Analysis: A huge amount is at stake at Thursday s election but latest poll spells fortune for SNP With a single day of campaigning left before Scotland votes, today’s poll by Opinium makes for good reading for the SNP and the Conservatives but will be seen as disappointing for Labour after some recent uptick in support. This election is less about who wins and more about the margin of victory and who comes second. Throughout the campaign, Nicola Sturgeon has made much of her being the only serious contender for First Minister while opposition leaders have conceded that their focus is on securing second place.