How Brexit reshaped Scotland’s political landscape

The decision to quit the EU bolstered support for Scottish independence, Kezia Dugdale says, because Brexit “creates a frame around fairness” for many Scots. Unlike England, Scotland backed remain in 2016 by 62% to 38% and then found the UK taken out of Europe; support for independence now stands at about 50%, reaching 55% in some polls.

Dugdale recalled feeling “utterly devastated” when the leave result was confirmed and told Nicola Sturgeon that “This changes everything,” arguing many Scots “faced an immediate binary choice of an independent Scotland in Europe or a Boris Johnson-led Brexit Britain.” Not everyone saw the remain vote as a route to independence.

Ruth Davidson, who championed the remain campaign for the Scottish Conservatives in 2016, said she was shocked by the leave result and resisted calls to co-opt remainer anger for a second referendum.

United Kingdom, Scotland

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