UPDATE: UK Government’s ‘curt’ response to Nicola Sturgeon after referendum vote denied

BREAKING: Scotland DENIED the right to call a new referendum by British Supreme Court

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Credit: Terry Murden/Shutterstock.com.

Scotland has been denied the right to call a new referendum by British Supreme Court.

Update 14.30 – The UK Government has drafted a seemingly ‘curt’ response to Nicola Sturgeon after the Scottish referendum was denied.

The UK Supreme Court today determined that the draft Scottish Independence Referendum Bill is outside the powers of the Scottish Parliament.

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, said that the UK Government was committed to working with the Scottish Government on the “issues that matter most to people in Scotland [such as] restoring economic stability and helping with energy bills” – as opposed to a second vote on Scottish independence.

Mr Jack said: “We note and respect the unanimous ruling from the Supreme Court today.

“People in Scotland want both their governments to be concentrating all attention and resources on the issues that matter most to them. That’s why we are focussed on issues like restoring economic stability, getting people the help they need with their energy bills, and supporting our NHS.

“Today alone, 11.6 million UK pensioners – around one million in Scotland – are starting to receive up to £600 to help with their energy bills this winter.

“As the Prime Minister has made clear, we will continue to work constructively with the Scottish Government in tackling all the challenges we share and face.”

Update 11.30am – ]Nicola Sturgeon defiantly responds after Scotland denied a new referendum.

Scotland’s First Minister posted a response to the news that the British Supreme Court denied the country another referendum.

She said on Twitter: “While disappointed by it I respect ruling of @UKSupremeCourt – 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 & makes case for Indy.”

Ms Sturgeon then followed up with a second tweet, declaring, “Scottish democracy will not be denied.”

“Today’s ruling blocks one route to Scotland’s voice being heard on independence – but in a democracy our voice cannot and will not be silenced,” she said.

Ms Sturgeon finished by saying that she would make a full statement around 11.30am local time.

Original story – There will be no referendum in Scotland after the UK High Court unanimously ruled that the Scottish Home Rule Parliament has no power to call an independence referendum without the consent of the UK government.

The five judges who heard the Edinburgh and London arguments in October, led by Judge Robert Reed, announced their verdict in the first room of the Court, located in Parliament Square in London, opposite the Palace of Westminster.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon had wanted to stage another vote in October of next year.

Supreme Court president Lord Reed announced the decision, saying: “The Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate for a referendum on Scottish independence.”

Reading out a summary of the Supreme Court’s decision this morning, Lord Reed said legislation for a second independence referendum would relate to “reserved matters” and was therefore outside the powers of Holyrood, reports the HuffPost.

He said: “A lawfully-held referendum would have important political consequences relation to the union [between England and Scotland] and the United Kingdom parliament.

“Its outcome would possess the authority, in a constitution and political culture founded upon democracy, of a democratic expression of the view of the Scottish electorate.

“It would either strengthen or weaken the democratic legitimacy of the union and of the United Kingdom parliament’s sovereignty over Scotland, depending on which view prevailed, and would either support or undermine the democratic credentials of the independence movement.

“It is therefore clear that the proposed bill has more than a loose or consequential connection with the reserved matters of the Union of Scotland and England, and the sovereignty of the United Kingdom parliament.”


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Vickie S
Written by

Vickie Scullard

A journalist of more than 12 years from Manchester, UK, Vickie now lives in Madrid and works as a news writer for the Euro Weekly News.

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