UK’s Supreme Court rejects Scottish independence referendum bid
- The court ruled the Scottish government cannot hold a second vote on independence without approval from the British parliament
- Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was disappointed with the decision that dealt a blow to her hopes of conducting the referendum next October
The United Kingdom’s top court ruled on Wednesday the Scottish government cannot hold a second referendum on independence next year without approval from the British parliament, dealing a hammer blow to nationalists’ hopes of holding a vote next year.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), said on Wednesday she was disappointed by the court ruling.
“While disappointed by it I respect ruling of @UKSupremeCourt – it doesn’t make law, only interprets it,” she wrote on Twitter.
“A law that doesn’t allow Scotland to choose our own future without Westminster consent exposes as myth any notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership & makes case for Indy.”
Sturgeon announced earlier this year that she intended to hold an advisory independence vote on October 19, 2023, but that it had to be lawful and internationally recognised.