- Scottish government can’t stage a second independence referendum next year.
- It can’t be without parliamentary authorization, dashing nationalists’ expectations.
- Scots rejected breaking the 300-year-old union with England by 55% to 45%, previously.
The UK’s highest court said the Scottish government can’t stage a second independence referendum next year without parliamentary authorization, dashing nationalists’ expectations.
In 2014, Scots rejected breaking the 300-year-old union with England by 55% to 45%, but independence proponents claim Britain’s vote to leave the EU, which most Scots opposed, has changed the conditions.
Nicola Sturgeon, head of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), indicated earlier this year that she planned to hold an advisory independence vote on October 19, 2023.
The British government in London says a vote should be a once-in-a-generation event.
Polls show voters are evenly split on independence, making a decision too close to call.
The Scottish government’s top lawyer asked the UK Supreme Court if it could adopt legislation allowing a second referendum without UK parliament permission.
Wednesday’s ruling said no.
Robert Reed, president of the UK Supreme Court, stated the Scottish Parliament can’t legislate an independence vote.
All topics relating to the Union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England are reserved for the UK parliament under the 1998 Scotland Act.
Sturgeon said she was unhappy with Wednesday’s judgement but will respect it.
“A statute that doesn’t allow Scotland to select its own future without Westminster consent disproves the UK as a consensual partnership,” she said.
“We won’t deny Scottish democracy. Today’s judgment removes one way to Scotland’s opinion being heard on independence, but in a democracy, our voice won’t be hushed.
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