British Supreme Court
Independence referendum in Scotland is a long way off
Supporters of Scottish independence take part in a demonstration in Edinburgh. photo
© Jane Barlow/PA Wire/dpa
It could have been a historic day for supporters of Scottish independence. But the Supreme Court in London did not want to do them this favor.
A new independence referendum in Scotland is a long way off. The highest British court in London announced on Wednesday that the Scottish regional parliament has no right to schedule a referendum. The judges followed the arguments of the British government. Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon had announced that she would uphold the Supreme Court’s decision. But then she wants to turn the next British general election into a quasi-referendum and only contest the election campaign of her Scottish National Party (SNP) with the demand for independence.
In the first referendum in 2014, a majority of Scots voted to remain in the union with Great Britain. For London, the question is thus decided in the long term. But Prime Minister Sturgeon argues that Brexit, which the Scots clearly rejected in 2016, has changed the situation. She wants to lead an independent Scotland back into the EU. In Parliament in Edinburgh, pro-independence is in the majority.