The UK Government has submitted its full written statement to the Supreme Court arguing against the Scottish Parliament holding another independence referendum. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain was asked by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to refer the Bill to judges in London to decide if Holyrood has the power to hold a referendum without the consent of Westminster.
The case is set to be heard October 11 and 12, however the Advocate General for Scotland Lord Stewart submitted the case against the Bill being within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday. It is understood the UK Government has asked for the Court's permission to publish the submission in full.
Sturgeon said she wants to hold a second independence referendum on October 19 next year, however opposition parties say now is not the time due to the cost-of-living crisis, the war in Ukraine and Scotland's recovery from the devastating covid pandemic.
A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: "People across Scotland want both their governments to be working together on the issues that matter to them and their families, not talking about another independence referendum. We have today submitted our written case to the Supreme Court, in accordance with its timetable.
"On the question of legislative competence, the UK Government's clear view remains that a Bill legislating for a referendum on independence would be outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament."
In its submission to the court, submitted last month, the Scottish Government leaned heavily on any future referendum not being "self-executing", meaning it would be purely advisory and only meant as a way to ascertain the views of the Scottish people.
The SNP have also made an attempt to intervene in the case, arguing that - as a public body - it would be "fair, just and reasonable" for the party to make arguments to the Court.
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