The British Supreme Court ruled on the 23rd that Scotland cannot hold a referendum on secession from the United Kingdom without the authorization of the British government.
The Supreme Court ruling said the Scottish Parliament “has no power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence”.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed the ruling on the same day. Scottish Local Government First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was disappointed but would respect the ruling.
In June this year, Sturgeon announced that the Scottish local government plans to hold a second independence referendum next year. She then wrote to the then British Prime Minister Johnson to ask for relevant permission, but was rejected. Scotland has since asked the British Supreme Court to issue an opinion on whether an independence referendum without the authorization of the British government can be legally held. The Supreme Court held a hearing on the matter in October.
Under the premise of prior authorization from the British government, Scotland held a referendum on whether to leave the UK in September 2014, and finally chose to stay in the UK with 55% against and 45% in favor. After Britain voted to leave the European Union in a referendum in 2016, independence sentiment in Scotland was once high. Scotland has a close economic relationship with the EU, and the majority of Scottish voters chose to support “Remain” in the “Brexit” referendum that year.