IndyRef2: Everything you need you to know about Scottish independence
The British government has been put on notice that a referendum on Scottish independence from the UK is a “matter of when not if”.
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon issued the warning to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a phone call after her Scottish National Party (SNP) won its fourth consecutive Holyrood election.
The SNP leader said a second referendum on independence from the UK would be inevitable as soon as Scotland is on the path to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Why now?
In its election platform, the SNP vowed to hold a new Scottish independence referendum if it secured another election victory.
It secured 64 of 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, one more than in the previous election but one less than would have been needed for a majority.