West Lothian’s SNP politicians have been reacting to Supreme Court judges rejecting the Scottish Government’s argument that it can hold a second independence referendum.
Plans for another vote in October next year have suffered a major set-back after judges ruled the Scottish Parliament does not have the required legal powers.
The Supreme Court in London issued its long-awaited ruling today after hearing arguments from lawyers representing Westminster and Holyrood last month.
Nicola Sturgeon ordered Scotland’s top law officer, the Lord Advocate, to refer the case to the top court in central London.
But Lord Reed, the Supreme Court president, said today: “The Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence.”
West Lothian’s SNP politicians have been reacting to the news.
Linlithgow and Falkirk East MP Martyn Day tweeted: “One door closes another opens, roll on the next electoral event and onwards to independence.”
His colleague at Westminster, Livingston MP Hanna Bardell questioned: “The question remains of how this can, in any way, be a voluntary union. It’s clearly not.”
In a tweet, Nicola Sturgeon said: “While disappointed by it I respect ruling of the Supreme Court - it doesn’t make law, only interprets it.
“A law that doesn’t allow Scotland to choose our own future without Westminster consent exposes as myth any notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership and makes case for independence.”
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