The confrontation of the 'iron ladies'

(Baonghean) - The UK's official activation of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to begin the negotiation process to take the country out of the European Union is attracting special attention from international public opinion. While the negotiation contents, which are predicted to be very tense, have not yet been clearly informed, the most headache-inducing "clause" for Theresa May at this time is named Nicola Sturgeon - the First Minister of Scotland!

The "Iron Lady" version

Nicola Sturgeon was known as a strong-willed girl from a young age. Growing up, Nicola Sturgeon had a desire to be involved in politics from a very early age, and she admitted that she was greatly influenced by the then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – something quite unusual for a Scot in the 1970s. When she was only 16 years old, she joined the Scottish National Party.

After graduating with a law degree from the University of Glasgow in 1993, working at Bell & Craig Law Firm, then Drumchapel Law Consultancy in Glasgow, she officially entered Scottish politics when she became a Member of Parliament at the age of 28.

Nicola Sturgeon has made steady progress on her political path: in 2004 she became Vice President of the Scottish National Party – the “right-hand man” of Chairman Alex Salmond. In 2007, when the Scottish National Party won the parliamentary election, Mr. Alex Salmond became the First Minister of Scotland and she became the Deputy First Minister. When Mr. Alex Salmont resigned in 2014, she surpassed many other bright candidates within the party to become his successor.

Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May during a meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: Getty

Like Prime Minister Theresa May, she is also considered an “iron lady” with a very decisive working style. Immediately after becoming the First Minister of Scotland, she implemented a series of action programs to fulfill her commitment to increase public sector spending, increase the minimum wage by 1/3, increase taxes on people in the highest income class by 50%..., and now separate Scotland from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Notably, immediately after taking over the leadership position of the Scottish National Party (SNP) as well as the position of First Minister of Scotland from her predecessor Alex Salmond, Ms. Nicola Sturgeon pledged to continue his unfinished journey, which is to seek independence for Scotland from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Nicola is against Britain leaving the European Union (Brexit) – like the wishes of the majority of Scottish voters. She also warned that if Britain allows Brexit to happen, it means that Britain has “cut off the last element that keeps Scotland in the UK”. As the first woman in five generations of Scottish First Ministers, Nicola Sturgeon is quite confident that she will find a different way from the “men” to seek independence for Scotland: “Even though it is wearing higher heels, it is more difficult to move, but I believe in myself and I will find the pace forward that I want”.

In the vote on March 29, Nicola Sturgeon's idea of ​​holding a second referendum on separation from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland between autumn 2018 and spring 2019 received 69 votes in favor and 59 votes against in Parliament.

This is more than enough to give Ms. Sturgeon the legal basis she needs to negotiate with London. As expected, this weekend, Ms. Sturgeon will send a formal request to Prime Minister Theresa May to hold a second referendum - something that would have been done last week if not for the attack in Westminster.

The confrontation of two "long legs"

However, Nicola Sturgeon's intention is facing obstacles from a woman with an equally strong will: Prime Minister Theresa May, who said she would not agree to let Scotland hold a referendum as planned by Nicola Sturgeon, and affirmed that she would not bow to pressure from the Scottish National Party: "My view is very simple and I will not change. Now is not the right time for a referendum in Scotland."

Theresa May gave two reasons for her decision: First, the UK had just triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, starting the journey to leave the EU. This was a time when the British people needed to unite to get a favorable Brexit deal. Second, it was unfair to force the Scottish people to make a choice when they did not know what the outcome of Brexit would be.

Nicola Sturgeon in a campaign calling for Scotland to separate from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Photo: Independent

Nicola Sturgeon, on the other hand, has a strong argument that Scotland has been “forced out of the EU”. Sturgeon has made it clear that Scotland is an equal partner in the United Kingdom and wants to remain in the EU single market. Therefore, Scotland wants to have a say in the EU negotiations.

Ms Sturgeon stressed: “The UK's negotiations with the EU are like a gamble and there is nothing clear, and there is even the possibility of a negative impact on the economy. So the UK needs to respect the differences between entities in the union on Brexit.”

In an attempt to bridge the gap on the issue of holding a referendum, Theresa May met with Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow, Scotland. However, neither the UK nor Scotland has made any official announcement about the meeting between the two leaders. According to some sources, May is still adamant that the referendum in Scotland should be discussed after the UK concludes Brexit negotiations with the EU.

So what will Nicola Sturgeon do next to pursue her desire for Scottish independence? Many predict that the coming period will be a tense confrontation between Edinburgh and London, with the atmosphere not as friendly as in the photo of two women with bright smiles that is spreading on mass media.

Thuy Ngoc