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Second independence referendum in Scotland “highly likely” after Brexit victory
Scottish First Minister says she will do whatever she can to keep Scotland in the EU
Before and during the election campaign, Sturgeon's Scottish National Party had warned that another independence referendum would be a likely outcome if the Scottish population voted for the EU while the UK as a whole decided to leave.
All of Scotland's local authorities voted to stay in the UE. "Scotland faces the prospect of being taken out of the EU against our will. I regard that as unacceptable," Sturgeon said this morning.
"Discussions have to be had before decisions are taken but if parliament judges that a referendum is the only way to protect Scotland's place in Europe it must be able to do so in that time scale," the FM further said.
Scotland held its first independence referendum in September 2014. 55% of voters chose to remain in the UK. Paradoxically, the fear of Scotland being left outside the EU was one of the arguments used by the unionist camp to demand Scottish voters to reject independence.
Northern Ireland votes to stay, Wales and Cornwall to leave
The same as Scotland, Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU (55.8% of Remain votes). Sinn Féin was quick to demand a vote on Irish unification as a means to keep Northern Ireland inside the European Union.
Conversely, Brexit won both in Wales (52.5%) and in Cornwall (56.5%).
Gibraltarian voters massively supported continued EU membership for the UK (96%). Spanish Foreign minister José Manuel García-Margallo seized the opportunity to call Gibraltarians to accept Spain-UK cosovereignty over Gibraltar.