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Scottish independence: Boris Johnson pushes back against IndyRef2

PM says it would be ‘irresponsible and reckless’ to hold fresh referendum as SNP’s hopes of winning majority hang in balance
Boris Johnson has said it would be “irresponsible and reckless” to hold a second independence referendum as the possibility of an outright majority in the Holyrood elections for the Scottish National party remains on a knife-edge on Saturday morning.
With an SNP victory now assured after the first day of counting, the scene is set for a clash with Downing Street as the party’s leader, Nicola Sturgeon, warned Johnson that he would “have to go to court” to stop her new government introducing legislation for another referendum.
But as Sturgeon said she would do so “when the time is right” if a pro-independence majority is achieved once the rest of the results are declared, Johnson told the Daily Telegraph: “I think a referendum in the current context is irresponsible and reckless.”
Referencing the work of the armed services and the furlough scheme, Johnson insisted: “I think there’s been an eloquent testimonial during the pandemic to the power of the union.”
It remains in the balance whether the SNP has secured an outright majority of 65 seats in the Scottish parliament or if there will be a pro-independence majority with Scottish Greens MSPs. After 48 of the 73 constituency results in Scotland were declared on Friday, the SNP had 39 seats, the Liberal Democrats four, the Conservatives three and Labour two.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s today programme on Saturday morning, the deputy SNP leader, John Swinney, accepted it would be “very, very challenging” for the party to achieve an outright majority, but rejected the suggestion that only this would serve as sufficient mandate for a referendum.
Swinney said: “I don’t accept that proposition because I think what that question comes down to is what’s the composition of the Scottish parliament, and who tried to get elected to it. And I’m very confident of two things.
“One, that the SNP will be the leading party after the elections. It is very clear that’s going to be the case. And secondly, I’m certain there will be a majority in the Scottish parliament of people who are committed to the holding of an independence referendum on the future of Scotland.”
A final result after Holyrood’s 56 top-up list seats are counted is not expected until late on Saturday. These are expected to show significant gains for the Scottish Greens. But initial results suggested that Alex Salmond’s newly formed Alba party, which was only standing candidates on the list, is unlikely to gain any seats.
On Friday, Sturgeon said: “If it is indeed the outcome of this election I pledge today to get back to work immediately to continue to steer the country through the crisis of Covid and then, when the time is right, to offer this country the choice of a better future.”
Sturgeon also told Channel 4 News that the SNP would introduce the legislation for a referendum “and if Boris Johnson wants to stop that he would have to go to court”.
“If this was in almost any other democracy in the world it would be an absurd discussion,” Sturgeon told Channel 4. “If people in Scotland vote for a pro-independence majority in the Scottish parliament, no politician has got the right to stand in the way of that.”
Late on Friday, the SNP’s hopes of achieving an overall majority were dealt a significant blow after Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, held Dumbarton, a seat which had Scotland’s narrowest majority of 109 votes.
Baillie increased her majority to 1,483 votes, with the help of anti-SNP tactical voting.
Sir John Curtice, the elections expert, said Baillie’s victory made it unlikely Sturgeon would win an overall majority. “Unionist tactical voting seems to have played a key role in denying the SNP their majority in this election,” he told the BBC.
source: Libby Brooks
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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