Saturday 28 / December / 2024
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday that she was "confident" Scotland could hold a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom in October 2023.
Scotland's first independence referendum was held in 2014, when 55% of voters chose to remain within the UK.
Supreme Court to deliberate referendum's legality
Britain's Conservative governments have declined to permit a second referendum on Scotland's independence.
On Tuesday, the British Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether Scotland's devolved government can hold a referendum without London's consent.
Scotland's government argues that the court should allow the referendum, citing a "fundamental and inalienable" right to self-determination. But lawmakers from Britain-wide parties and some legal commentators say that the matter is reserved for the Westminster parliament in London as per the 1998 Scotland Act.
Sturgeon has said that if the court blocks the referendum, her Scottish National Party (SNP) will run in the next British general election solely on a platform of Scottish independence, turning the election into a de facto plebiscite. The UK's next general election is due to be held in 2024.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday that she was "confident" Scotland could hold a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom in October 2023.
Scotland's first independence referendum was held in 2014, when 55% of voters chose to remain within the UK.
Supreme Court to deliberate referendum's legality
Britain's Conservative governments have declined to permit a second referendum on Scotland's independence.
On Tuesday, the British Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether Scotland's devolved government can hold a referendum without London's consent.
Scotland's government argues that the court should allow the referendum, citing a "fundamental and inalienable" right to self-determination. But lawmakers from Britain-wide parties and some legal commentators say that the matter is reserved for the Westminster parliament in London as per the 1998 Scotland Act.
Sturgeon has said that if the court blocks the referendum, her Scottish National Party (SNP) will run in the next British general election solely on a platform of Scottish independence, turning the election into a de facto plebiscite. The UK's next general election is due to be held in 2024.
