The long-awaited Brexit vote is tomorrow. With polls showing the outcome of the vote on whether Britain should leave the EU is still too close to call, Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Guardian that the tragic murder of MP Jo Cox will have an impact. But, she added, “it’s too early to say” whether the killing of Cox, who would have turned 42 today, will sway voters to decide to stay in the EU. Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron told the Financial Times a vote to remain would lead to a flood of investment into Britain.
Interestingly, if Britain votes to leave, Sturgeon also said Scotland would reserve the right to hold another referendum, as it did in 2014, on whether it should become independent. Such circumstances would not be her first choice, however. “I want Scotland to be independent, but I wouldn’t choose to have it happen because England votes to come out of the EU,” she told the Guardian. Separately, if Scotland votes to leave the U.K., Sturgeon said she would consider the possibility of using the euro.
No matter what the outcome of the vote, Sturgeon said she hoped the intense anti-immigrant rhetoric leading up to the Brexit decision would change the tone of the dialogue and make people “think twice” before writing a tweet that “hurls personal abuse.” She said that while politicians “can’t control the tone” of the debate on social media, they can “lead by example.” It’s a worthwhile goal.
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