As decided, the Home Rule Parliament of Scotland “has no power to call an independence referendum without the consent of the Government of London”.
Euskaraz irakurri: Erresuma Batuko Auzitegi Gorenak ebatzi du Eskoziak ezin duela aldebakarreko erreferendumik deitu
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled on Wednesday that the Home Rule Parliament of Scotland does not have the power to call an independence referendum without the permission of the London government“when it comes to matters reserved for the British Parliament, such as the Union between Scotland and England.”
This was stated by Judge Robert Reed, when he set out the verdict reached by the five judges who heard the Edinburgh and London arguments in October, pointing out that it is “a unanimous opinion, which has been given priority”.
The judge stressed that the verdict “grows out of the public interest” and that “it is not a political decision” about independence. In his presentation, Reed considered that the effect of a referendum, even if it does not directly affect independence, “is not limited to the legal consequences, but may include the practical consequences”.
“This court unanimously concludes that the bill concerns reserved matters”, and that according to this, the Scottish Parliament “does not have the power to legislate on a referendum on independence for Scotland”.
“Major political consequences”
The Supreme Court understands that the consultations that the nationalist government of Nicola Sturgeon wants to hold on October 19, 2023 “will have important political consequences”, and therefore “would strengthen or weaken the democratic strength of the Union, and support or undermine the democratic credentials” of the independence cause.
In setting out the Supreme Court’s position, the judge recalled that the ruling Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) had alluded to the right to self-determination and international law to defend its case.
In this sense, it has rejected the SNP’s arguments, on the understanding that this right can only be invoked in former colonies or by peoples oppressed by the occupation of a foreign power.
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, had raised ahead of the ruling that she intended to hold a plebiscite on independence on October 19, 2023. United Kingdom, for which reason she is defending a new consultation, while the London government believes that the matter has been settled for at least “a generation”.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
