'Reverse Greenland' or IndyRef2: Can Scotland Beat Brexit?

Following last week's historic vote to leave the EU many have speculated over whether or not there is any way of backtracking from the result. Many Leave voters have expressed "bregret" or "regrexit," stating that they voted based on information given to them by the Leave campaign that has now proven to be untrue.

One potential method of "blocking" Brexit comes from Scotland, where people voted in favor of remaining in the European Union by 62% to 38%.

Day 3 in the UK. #Bregret pic.twitter.com/q3LcCR2UCB

— Jay Derderian (@J_Derderian) June 26, 2016​

Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has stated she will do everything in her power to ensure that Scotland remains in the EU, and now many "Bregreters" and pro-Remain voters south of the border are hoping that she may be able to void the whole vote. But does Nicola Sturgeon have the power to keep the UK in the EU?

Thinking before acting is wisdom. Acting before thinking is regret. #Regrexit pic.twitter.com/Vcb0uXjxaY

— Séainín Brennan (@SeaininBrennan) June 27, 2016​

#BrexitInFiveWords The Two Ronnies Class Sketch #Bregret pic.twitter.com/yrMD0zOPsY

— Ingrid Sims (@footieping) June 25, 2016​

Dr Andrew Tickell, a professor in Law at Glasgow Caledonian University and a contributor of expert evidence to the Scottish Parliament on devolution and constitutional issues, told Sputnik that Scotland cannot legally block the Brexit vote.

"Legally, no they can't do it — that's not going to happen, can't happen and here is no mechanism for it to happen legally. Politically, that's a different question."

While Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon may not have the legal power to block Brexit across the United Kingdom, there are potentially alternative options for ensuring that Scotland remains a member of the EU.

One theory which has been suggested is referred to as the "reverse Greenland" effect, based on the fact that Greenland is a part of Denmark, which is itself an EU member state, but Greenland is not part of the EU.

I do rather like the Reverse Greenland. Like a reverse ferret. it has a ring to it.

— Iain Macwhirter (@iainmacwhirter) June 27, 2016​

Though this is a complex agreement, which would not be so easily adopted by the United Kingdom, as Dr Tickell told Sputnik:

"It's not news that different parts of member states can have different relationships. The EU is an international organization formed of member states — if Scotland was going to be part of it, but not an independent country, then the UK would have to be the member state. In order for reverse Greenland to work the UK would have to remain a member state of the EU and have England and Wales out of it, in the manner of Greenland — can you imagine that the new Brexit government would want to remain a EU member state with huge parts of the country coming out?"

In that regard, Dr Tickell suggested that the only route for Nicola Sturgeon to effectively block Brexit for Scotland would be to secure and win a second referendum on Scottish independence. Many people who voted "No" in the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 have now suggested that they would consider voting "Yes" if there were to be a second Scottish referendum, not least children's author JK Rowling, who vehemently campaigned against independence in 2014.

@BBCJamesCook "Staunch opponent" implies I was pro-union no matter what, which was never the case. Many no voters will think again now.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 24, 2016​

Polls released since Friday (June 24) have suggested that support for independence in Scotland is now well over 50%, and Nicola Sturgeon has said that a second referendum is "highly likely."

UK (Scotland): Independence referendum, Survation poll:

Yes: 54% (+6)
No: 46% (-6)#indyref2

— Europe Elects (@EuropeElects) June 27, 2016​