The court ruled that Scotland is not allowed to hold an independence referendum without the permission from United Kingdom government, writes BBC.
Court has announced its decision regarding Scotland’s independence referendum and ruled that referendum can’t happen without the permission from United Kingdom’s parliament. Hearings of both sides were held in October. The previous referendum took place in 2014 and didn’t get the necessary support from citizens.
Court president Lord Reed said that the laws that in 1999 created the devolved Scottish Parliament, don’t give the right to solve the issues, regarding the union, one-sided. If the parliaments of Scotland and the United Kingdom can’t agree on such issues, the court doesn’t have the right to allow a referendum. Reed rejected Scotland’s objections that a referendum doesn’t have legal effect and said: «A lawfully held referendum would have important political consequences relating to the union and the United Kingdom Parliament.»
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote on Twitter that she is disappointed with the decision, but will respect the court. However, she added that such a decision is illuminating the myth of the United Kingdom as a voluntary partnership.
Latest polls show that Scotts are almost split in half on the question of whether Scotland should be independent. A very narrow majority favors staying in the United Kingdom.