Nicola Sturgeon pushes for second referendum on Scottish independence after Supreme Court rejects her bid to block Brexit
NICOLA STURGEON said on today the need for a second Scottish independence vote was “ever clearer” – after losing her bid for a Brexit veto.
The Supreme Court’s 11 judges unanimously agreed the Government was not “legally compelled” to consult with the Scottish Parliament — or the Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies — before beginning EU divorce talks.
The verdict was a devastating blow for Scotland’s First Minister, who insists pro-Remain Scotland is being pulled out of the EU against its will.
A defeat for the Government could have delayed Brexit for months and plunged the country into a constitutional crisis.
It is becoming clearer by the day that Scotland’s voice is simply not being heard
Former Tory Minister Dominic Raab said: “The SNP’s arguments were blown out of the water.”
The SNP immediately reacted by vowing to table 50 “serious and substantive” amendments to the Government’s Brexit Bill in a bid to delay the departure.
And Ms Sturgeon said it was clear Scotland would have to make a choice over its future.
She moaned: “It is becoming clearer by the day that Scotland’s voice is simply not being heard or listened to.
“The claims about Scotland being an equal partner are being exposed as nothing more than empty rhetoric.”
Stepping up her threats, she added: “Is Scotland content for our future to be dictated by an increasingly right-wing Westminster Government with just one MP here – or is it better than we take our future into our own hands?
“It is becoming ever clearer that this is a choice that Scotland must make.”
The SNP will still hold a vote on Article 50 in the Scottish Parliament – but that will now be a purely symbolic show of hands.
Under the so-called Sewel Convention, the UK Parliament legislates on a matter which is normally dealt with by the Scottish Parliament if MSPs give their consent.
RELATED STORIES
But the Supreme Court said this was only a “political constraint” and not something judges could rule on.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell last night insisted Scotland’s voice was being heard “clearly throughout the whole process”.
He added: “We want the SNP to take the uncertainty of a second referendum off the table and come together with us we we move forward."