Citizens in Scotland and Wales will vote for the devolved parliaments from 6am to 9pm GMT on Thursday
LONDON, May 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Polling booths in Scotland and Wales closed on Thursday at the end of the polling day in the elections for the two regional parliaments.
The results of the highly-anticipated elections could determine the future of Britain’s union.
Voters in Scotland and Wales had until 2100 GMT to cast their votes for their regional and parliamentary choices.
In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP), which favours Scottish independence, was predicted to win the election again according to opinion polls prior to the election – but it was unclear whether they could seal a majority in the Scottish parliament.
Scotland previously held a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014, when 55 per cent of people voted to remain part of the British union, while 45 per cent voted against.
Other pro independence parties in the nation include a major party, the Scottish Greens, and a new, smaller party, Alba.
Meanwhile the other major parties running in the elections include the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who are all against Scottish independence.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been dismissive of a second referendum for Scotland, saying the 2014 vote still holds. That vote however came before Britain exited the European Union, which the majority of Scots did not vote for, raising the tensions over the independence question.
Separately during the polling day, SNP leader – and former First Minister for Scotland – Nicola Sturgeon was confronted by a man and a woman in Glasgow.
A video posted on Twitter on Thursday showed the pair criticizing Sturgeon for her policies regarding immigration in Scotland, stating she was an “absolute disgrace” for “flooding” the nation with “people from other countries.”
“You’re a fascist, a racist and the Southside of Glasgow (the seat Sturgeon is battling for) will reject you,” she told the man and woman before walking away.
When the video was posted on Twitter, Sturgeon was praised for how she handled the confrontation.
“Glasgow Southside is the most diverse and multi-cultural constituency in Scotland – one of the many things that makes it so brilliant,” Sturgeon tweeted in response. “I am confident it will unite today to utterly reject these fascists.”
Over in Wales, Mark Drakeford, of the left-wing Welsh Labour, is hoping for a second term in office as First Minister for Wales after previously taking office in 2018.
Latest polls published earlier in the week ahead of the votes on Thursday showed while Drakeford’s party could gain the most seats, they may not gain a majority either.
This could see him forming a coalition with fellow left-wing party Plaid Cymru, whose leader Adam Price is calling for an independence referendum within five years if his party wins a majority.
Other parties which are pro Welsh independence include the Welsh Independence Party, Gwlad, the Welsh Green Party and Propel.
Parties which are against independence in the nation include UKIP, Reform UK, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, the Welsh Conservatives.
Counting typically takes place overnight in British elections, however, both counts in the nations will not begin until Saturday.
This is due to restrictions surrounding coronavirus.
The results of the Welsh parliament are expected on Friday evening while the Scottish parliament results are expected on Saturday afternoon. — NNN-AGENCIES