Ex-SNP Leader Launches New Scottish Independence Strategy in Wake of Brexit

Former leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Gordon Wilson on Tuesday launched a new strategy document dubbed "Long Term Strategy for Independence" outlining how his party can "take advantage" of the fallout from the UK/EU referendum campaign.

EDINBURGH (Sputnik) — After the referendum outcomes were announced, current SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, said that the final results showed the desire of the Scots to remain part of the European Union.

"The decision in the EU Referendum has led to a divided UK with England and Wales voting to Leave [the EU] and Scotland and Northern Ireland opting to Remain. It has created a de facto break-up of the United Kingdom itself… The decision offers rare opportunities to the Scottish Government to use the situation for Scotland’s advantage," Wilson said presenting the document in Edinburgh.

The SNP was "ill-prepared and acting as a political party rather than as the leader of a nationalist movement," when they held an independence referendum in 2014, according to Wilson.

During his speech, Wilson is also expected to call on SNP leadership to "deploy humility" and to make new independence campaign more broadly based.

A majority of voters in Wales and England voted in favor of leaving the bloc at Thursday's referendum on the United Kingdom's membership in the European Union, while London, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted in favor of remaining part of the 28-nation bloc.

After the referendum outcomes were announced, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said that the final results showed the desire of the Scots to remain part of the European Union.

In 2014, over 55 percent of Scottish voters rejected secession during the referendum on Scotland's independence from the United Kingdom. The issue, however, remains on the Scottish agenda.