YP Comment: Can May unite the Kingdom?

UNDER Theresa May's leadership, Britain is now destined to leave one union '“ the European Union. Now the Prime Minister's challenge is to ensure that she does not preside over the collapse of an Union which goes to the very core of this country '“ the United Kingdom. She has her work cut out. Northern Ireland devolution is in deadlock after rival parties failed to reach agreement on power-sharing '“ their rigid inflexibility has the potential to create a leadership and security vacuum '“ while the Scottish parliament is expected today to endorse a second referendum on the divisive issue of independence.

Now the Prime Minister’s challenge is to ensure that she does not preside over the collapse of an Union which goes to the very core of this country – the United Kingdom. She has her work cut out. Northern Ireland devolution is in deadlock after rival parties failed to reach agreement on power-sharing – their rigid inflexibility has the potential to create a leadership and security vacuum – while the Scottish parliament is expected today to endorse a second referendum on the divisive issue of independence.

And, whatever the Prime Minister says or does, it’s unlikely to appease Nicola Sturgeon as Scotland’s First Minister continues to challenge the outcome of the 2014 vote on independence and last year’s UK-wide poll which backed Brexit.

More’s the pity. On the steps of 10 Downing Street immediately after her appointment, Mrs May reaffirmed her commitment to the UK. Within 48 hours, she had undertaken a courtesy visit to Edinburgh and the Prime Minister held further talks with the increasingly intransigent First Minister yesterday. These do not appear to be the actions of a Prime Minister who does not care about Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. Quite the opposite. This is the work of a premier who is so committed to uniting the UK, and keeping the whole Kingdom together, that she’s putting the devolved nations before equally important English regions like Yorkshire.

May and Sturgeon still polls apart on Scottish independence vote issue