UK: Second Scottish independence referendum "off the table"

London, September 14 (KUNA) -- The UK government’s Scotland Office stated on Monday that holding a second independence referendum for Scotland, as outlined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is currently “off the table,” noting that such steps would serve as a “distraction” that hinders efforts to grow the economy and reduce living costs.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said on the social media platform X, “As the Prime Minister made clear to the First Minister in his letter on Thursday, independence and a referendum are off the table because they would only distract from our important work of growing the economy and helping families ease the burden of living costs.”

He added, “If we want to build a better Scotland in the coming years, unity around our shared values and a focus on practical solutions offer a better path than division and a focus on grievances.”

Alexander concluded, “Our goal is to build a country that serves the interests of workers. We want to work in cooperation with the Scottish Government to achieve this and create opportunities for growth and prosperity in every region and postcode across our country.”

Earlier today, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland signed a memorandum of understanding in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, calling for self-determination and independence from the United Kingdom. The document also expressed the desire to rejoin the European Union following Brexit and called for enhanced cooperation among the signatories. (End) A.S.H./M.M.J.