Scotland independence: UK Supreme Court hears case for a second referendum on secession from London
Britain’s top court is due to begin hearing arguments on Tuesday on whether Scotland’s semi-autonomous administration can organise an independence vote without the London government’s consent.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon plans to hold a new independence referendum in October next year, but the UK government is adamant it won't happen, saying the 2014 referendum -- which was won by the 'no' campaign with 55% of the vote to 44% in favour of independence -- was a 'once in a generation event.'
Since then the numbers have tightened and Scots are evenly split on independence, although they have consistently returned pro-independence politicians to parliaments in Westminster and Edinburgh over the last eight years, with the SNP winning every national vote since then.
The Scottish Parliament currently has a majority of MSPs who are pro-independence from Sturgeon's Scottish National Party and the Greens.
Five judges on the UK's Supreme Court in London will hear arguments in this case over the next two days, although a decision is not expected for weeks, or possibly even months.
The British government's position is that only Westminster can give the green light to any new independence referendum because constitutional issues remain the purview of the London government and are not devolved to Edinburgh.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government will say the referendum -- like the 2016 Brexit referendum -- is only advisory and will not in itself mean Scotland becomes independent, as there would need to be negotiations and new laws passed before that could actually happen.
The Scottish National Party will also make a submission to the court about the right of self-determination.
Nicola Sturgeon has said that if her government loses
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