Name: Scotland's balancing act | FT World
Uploaded: 2016-06-29T09:33:21.000Z
Duration: 2 min 9 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

These are extraordinary political times for Scotland

after voters here emphatically backed remaining in the EU

while a majority across the UK voted to leave.

Diverging trends are putting unprecedentedly strain

are deeply dismayed at the prospect of being forced out of the EU.

With cross party backing in the Scottish parliament

"This is not a statement I wanted to make,

The Scottish government didn't seek a referendum

and we certainly did not want this result.

I am determined that Scotland's voice will be heard."

Ms. Sturgeon said she's ready to consider all options

but she's warned that a second independence referendum

"Based on the very clear result in Scotland:

it would be against the will of our people.

That would be democratically unacceptable.

It is for that reason that I've said that everything must be on the table

including a second independence referendum."

In an impassioned speech at the European parliament

Alyn Smith of the Scottish National Party demanded that the Scotland should be allowed to stay

And it won a standing ovation from sympathetic fellow MEPs.

"Monsieur Nicole, do not let Scotland down now."

But whether EU leaders in member states will be willing to accomodate Scotland

As is the likely level of support for Scottish independence

Much may depend on how the UK Brexit negotiations go.