Scotland cannot hold a second independence referendum without first getting the approval of the UK government, Supreme Court judges have ruled.
Scotland held an independence referendum in 2014 and just over 55% voted to remain part of the UK.
But the pro-independence SNP, which has led the country since 2007, believes it has a mandate to hold a fresh vote because of its continued success in elections – the majority of members in the Scottish Parliament back independence – and because of the change in circumstances since Brexit.
Politics live: Reaction following IndyRef2 ruling
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon began her attempts to get approval for a new referendum – dubbed IndyRef2 – in 2017 by asking then-prime minister Theresa May for a Section 30 order.
But she and subsequent UK PMs have refused, leading to today’s court case on whether the Scottish Parliament could pass a bill to hold a referendum without the nod from Westminster.
