Scottish independence: important decision in London At least 36 dead in fire at Chinese factory

The question is whether the regional parliament in Edinburgh can decide on a referendum on the detachment from London – even if the British government opposes it. According to observers, this cannot be ruled out that the court will rule in favor of the nationalists, but unlikely. Still, political scientist Kirsty Hughes sees a smart move by Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon as she took the case to the High Court.

Because now the British government is under pressure. Regardless of what the court decides, Hughes sees pro-independence as the winners. Surprisingly, should the Supreme Court uphold the right of the Scottish Parliament, the Nationalists have already taken a decisive step forward. Sturgeon has announced a referendum for October 2023 in this case. If the opponents of independence boycotted this vote, they would act undemocratically, said Hughes of the German news agency. The same applies if the British government tries to make the referendum illegal.

If the court rejects the request, the nationalists could argue that, contrary to what the British government has always insisted, the United Kingdom is not a voluntary union. Prime Minister Sturgeon has stressed that she will take a no but lead the next UK general election as a quasi-referendum. It’s risky but smart, Hughes said. Because if a majority of Scots actually vote for parties that stand for independence, that is a political signal. The pressure on London is mounting.

According to experts, there is a good chance that the Supreme Court will not make a final decision. Scotland’s Attorney General Dorothy Bain, who made the application on behalf of the regional government, has asked the court to rule in a hypothetical case, constitutional barrister Adam Tomkins said. “Not only has the bill not been passed, it has not even been formally tabled in the Scottish Parliament,” Tomkins told the PA news agency. The Supreme Court could therefore declare that there is nothing to decide.

If there is no ruling, it is possible that the Scottish Government, with the votes of Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Greens, will push a referendum bill through parliament – and wait and see if the UK government then appeals to the Supreme Court. But political scientist Hughes also sees this as an advantage for the nationalists. Because if the British government were to act against a referendum decided by a democratically elected parliament, it would be another sign that London does not take the will of the Scots seriously, says Hughes.

In the first referendum in 2014, a majority of Scots voted to remain in the union with Great Britain. For London, therefore, the issue is settled 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 to the EU. In the parliament in Edinburgh, the pro-independence is in the majority.

Despite London’s decision, the Independence Camp has called for demonstrations in several Scottish cities in the afternoon. There should also be smaller gatherings in five EU cities, including Munich (6.30pm). “As important as the Supreme Court ruling is the fact that people around the world will see Scots being visible, active and vocal in supporting another referendum to decide their future,” said co-organiser Lesley Riddoch. (sda/dpa)