Bringing cold water to Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the UK Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that Scotland does not have the right to hold an independence referendum without the consent of the British Parliament.
In June, Sturgeon announced plans to hold a second independence referendum with a suggested date of October 19 next year. The aim was for Scotland to become an independent state and a member of the European Union (EU).
But, in the unanimous decision delivered this Wednesday, the Chief Justice of the High Court, Lord Reed, said that the laws that created the Scottish Parliament in 1999 did not give him power to legislate matters of the Constitution, which includes the union of Scotland and England, matter that would fall under the purview of the British Parliament.
On Twitter, the prime minister said she respected, but was disappointed with the decision. “A law that does not allow Scotland to choose its future without Westminster’s consent makes it clear that any notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership is a myth.”
“Today’s decision blocks a way for Scotland’s voice to be heard on independence, but in a democracy our voice cannot and will not be silenced,” continued Sturgeon.
Shortly afterwards, Sturgeon gave a speech in which he said he believed the forthcoming general election could, in practice, represent a vote for Scottish independence.
According to a report by the BBC, the prime minister said that, since she was 16 —she is 52—, she has been campaigning for independence. “At the same time, I’m careful with decisions on the matter, as I recognize that I’m a temporary leader and that this is a much bigger movement than I am.”
The imbroglio is one of the first inherited by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who in October won a majority of Conservative Party votes to take over the UK government after a turbulent period for his predecessors Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.
Following the high court decision, Alister Jack, UK minister for Scotland, said the central London executive respects the measure and urged his Scottish counterpart to focus on issues that really matter to the people of Scotland.
The country of 5.5 million inhabitants held an independence referendum in 2014. At the time, however, separation from the United Kingdom was rejected by 55% of Scots. The main argument was the fear of leaving the European Union. Two years later, however, the British approved a Brexit referendum to leave the European bloc.
London argues that Scotland has already held the referendum and therefore there is no reason to hold another such vote. Anticipating possible legal complications, it was the government of Nicola Sturgeon that, six weeks ago, asked the Supreme Court to rule on the legality of the plan.
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