Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement that she will resign as First Minister of Scotland comes at a fractious time for Scotland’s independence debate. After the UK Supreme Court ruled the proposed October referendum this year to be illegal, the matter is likely to feature prominently in the next UK general election to be held in late 2024. Meanwhile, Scotland’s ability to craft its European framework in realistic terms remains distant, and it is unlikely that Scottish independence will become a reality anytime soon. For the Scottish National Party (SNP) this presents a clear policy and ideological dilemma for Sturgeon’s successor.

Like most regions and constituent nations of the UK, Scotland’s identity and place in Europe has been severely tested by Brexit. Despite an undeniably strong connection to Europe, Scotland remains as ‘un-Europeanised as the rest of the UK’ according to a recent essay by a prominent Scottish political analyst. Furthermore, the essay states that with ‘a façade of pro-EU sentiment’, there remain ‘substantial disconnects’ between Scotland and the institutions and functioning of the EU. In addition, a report for the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution Committee found the Scottish government failed to keep Scottish legislation in line with hundreds of changes in EU law. This legal and legislative disconnect has not served Scottish voters and only provides a veneer of connectivity with Brussels while lacking the political will required to fundamentally transform Scotland’s relations with Europe.

Sturgeon’s resignation marks the first time in many years in which Scotland can recalibrate its approach and combine lofty, ideological rhetoric with practical policy proposals. Westminster has long been an easy scapegoat, and it remains politically convenient for the SNP to criticise the Conservatives who allegedly caused the mess rather than it is to devise pragmatic solutions. Thus far, Prime Minister Sunak has shown a greater willingness than his predecessors to work productively on sensitive Brexit-related issues. This includes renewed diplomacy over the Northern Ireland Protocol with Brussels, signalling reasons to be optimistic that Sunak can form a positive working relationship with Sturgeon’s successor.

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