EU referendum: Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair says Brexit would lead to Scotland leaving the UK
Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair thinks that if the United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union, Scotland will leave the UK.
Speaking to French radio, Blair said he hopes the UK will decide to stay in the 28-member bloc, but added: “In my opinion, if Great Britain, if the United Kingdom votes to leave Europe, Scotland will vote to leave the United Kingdom.”
Read more: Could a Brexit vote lead to a second Scottish independence referendum?
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already indicated she would be very likely to regard the UK voting to leave the EU, but Scotland voting to remain, as a "trigger" justifying a second referendum.
On Sunday she reiterated this claim, saying the scenario would lead to "overwhelming demand" for a second independence referendum. "The democratic outrage of being taken out of Europe against our will, I think would make that almost inevitable," she said.
Read more: Alan Johnson talks Labour and the EU referendum
Blair joins not only Sturgeon, but also former foreign secretary William Hague, former EU chief Herman Van Rompuy and former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg in warning that Brexit could lead to a second independence referendum in Scotland.
Polls at current suggest that Scotland overwhelmingly wants to stay in the EU, while England is growing increasingly uncertain about what it wants to do.