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EDINBURGH — Scots will have another chance to vote for independence on October 19, 2023 — assuming the courts and Boris Johnson fail to block the move.
According to plans announced by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday, the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) will legislate for a second non-binding Scottish referendum to be held next year.
However, even Sturgeon admitted the path to that vote was uncertain as she revealed her government had asked the UK’s highest court to decide whether Scotland had the power to hold a referendum without the permission from London.
The first ballot, in 2014, in which the pro-Union side won 55% to 45%, followed then-Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to temporarily give Holyrood the power to organize a referendum.
After pro-independence parties secured a majority of seats in the Holyrood election last year, Sturgeon argued his government now had a mandate to stage a new vote. Johnson and UK ministers disagreed, pointing to nationalist statements in 2014 that the first referendum would be a “once in a generation” event.
In his speech to Scottish lawmakers, which set out the roadmap for this second ballot, Sturgeon said his preferred option remained a repeat of the 2014 transfer of powers, known as the Section 30 ordinance.
But this time, no such consent from Westminster will be granted. A No 10 spokesman said ahead of Sturgeon’s statement that London’s position was unchanged and “now is not the time to talk about another referendum”.
Either way, Sturgeon said she would write to Johnson asking for formal consent for the vote to take place. If, as expected, Johnson rejects that appeal, the Scottish government should go ahead anyway.
“I will never allow Scottish democracy to be a prisoner to Boris Johnson or any other prime minister,” Sturgeon said.
The Prime Minister announced that the Scottish Government’s legal director had written to the UK Supreme Court asking for a hearing on whether Scotland had the power to hold a non-binding referendum, even if Westminster refused to give consent. This will leave the push for another referendum at the mercy of the best judges in the UK.
If the justices agree with the nationalists and decide that Sturgeon has the power to hold an advisory vote, the Scottish government will press ahead with plans for a vote in October 2023 on the same question that was used in 2014: “Scotland should it be an independent country? ?”
If the justices disagree and rule that the power to hold any form of referendum rests solely with Westminster, Sturgeon said his party would instead contest the next UK general election – due in 2024 – on that same single referendum question. of 2014.
“It wouldn’t be the end of the matter, far from it,” Sturgeon said of any failed court battle. For now, all Scottish eyes are on the Supreme Court in London.
rt
