The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has ruled that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for a second independence referendum without the consent of Westminster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case was filed after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans for a second referendum on independence on October 19, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, according to Supreme Court President Lord Reed, “the Scottish parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It means that the Lord Advocate, the Scottish Government’s top legal officer, will be unable to clear the Bill for passage through the Scottish Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dorothy Bain had brought the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill before the court, seeking a ruling on whether Holyrood had the authority to pass the legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Bain stated that the issue had been “festering” since the beginning of devolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sir James Eadie KC, its legal representative, also argued that the Bill was too early for the court to rule on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lord Reed stated that he agreed with the Lord Advocate’s argument that the court should rule on the matter in the public interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reading out a summary of the judgment, he firstly said the court was not being asked to express \u201ca view on the political question of whether Scotland should become an independent country\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cIts task is solely to interpret the relevant provisions of the Scotland Act and decide whether the proposed Bill would relate to reserved matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has ruled that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for a second independence referendum without the consent of Westminster. The case was filed after … <\/p>\n