Supreme Court to hear arguments over whether Holyrood can hold Scottish independence vote

The highest court in the UK will hear arguments on whether the Scottish Parliament has the powers to establish an independence referendum.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is aiming to hold indyref2 on October 19 next year.

The Scottish Government’s top lawyer asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether Holyrood would be able to legislate to hold a vote without the consent of the UK.

However, the UK Government had called for the request by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain to be rejected.

Under current procedures, a section 30 request would need to be made and then granted for the necessary transfer of powers from Westminster to Holyrood.

In an update on Tuesday, the Supreme Court stated its decision that it should hear argument on both sides.

These would be considered at a single hearing in the interests of “justice” and of the “efficient disposal” of proceedings.

Outgoing-Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected calls for an independence referendum made during his premiership.

In the Conservative leadership race to succeed Johnson, the contenders have also made a commitment to reject any move for a referendum to be held.

Sturgeon has stated that she would be prepared to sit down with the next prime minister to discuss the holding of another vote on independence.

It will now be either Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt or Liz Truss in Number 10 after Kemi Badenoch was eliminated from the contest on Tuesday.