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British parties split over Scottish independence vote

The UK's general election on Thursday (December 12) saw Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives secure a significant majority, but another winner was the Scottish National Party led by Nicola Sturgeon.

She says the success was down to her party campaigning on the proposition that Scottish people should be allowed a choice in their future. Scotland voted against independence in 2014, but Sturgeon argues that the situation has changed now with the UK set to exit the European Union.

But Gove said the 2014 referendum was meant to be "once in a generation", adding that Scotland is "stronger in the United Kingdom".

Gove also said that after the election victory, the UK would leave the EU by January 31 and would have concluded "conversations with the EU about the new framework of free trade and friendly cooperation" by the end of next year.

The Conservative victory has eased that process, and on Sunday the main opposition Labour Party's Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said he was to blame for the "disaster".