“Significant blow” to Scottish independence movement The prime minister who played the role of flag resigned Whether criticism of LGBTQ policy was the trigger: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

[London = Miki Kato]Prime Minister Sturgeon of the Scottish Autonomous Government in northern England announced his intention to resign on the 15th, and it has been pointed out that the independence movement from the UK will suffer a “significant blow” (British newspaper The Independent). The Scottish National Party (SNP), the ruling party, will proceed with the selection of the party leader to become the next prime minister, but with the loss of the leader who led the independence movement for eight years, it is inevitable that the strategy will be reorganized.

Sturgeon announces his resignation at a press conference in Edinburgh on Thursday.

Sturgeon took over as prime minister about two months after the 2014 referendum on independence was defeated by 45% in favor and 55% against. Since then, he has demonstrated outstanding leadership within the party, leading the SNP to victory in multiple general elections.

In the 2016 referendum in which the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union (EU), Scotland won 62% of the vote to remain. The SNP has sought independence from the UK and EU membership, and has sought to hold a second referendum under Sturgeon’s strong leadership.

However, the British Conservative government did not approve the implementation, and the Supreme Court ruled in November last year that the referendum would require the approval of the British government. Mr. Sturgeon sought to break through the situation by positioning the next general election as a de facto referendum, but according to a poll released on the 14th, only 44% were in favor of independence, while 56% were against it. Voters are more interested in the economy, the rising cost of living and national health care,” the Guardian reported.

Regarding Mr. Sturgeon’s sudden resignation,stalemate（Kochaku）In addition, there are many analyzes that the multiple difficulties surrounding sexual minority (LGBTQ) policies were the trigger. Last month, Scotland passed a gender recognition bill that would eliminate the need for a medical certificate to change gender and lower the minimum age to 16, but the UK government last month vetoed the bill.

The party also faced outcry last month after it imprisoned a transgender defendant, who became a woman after committing forced sex with multiple women when he was a man, in a women’s prison last month. Sturgeon was forced to change his decision, including ordering transfer to a men’s prison.