The decision will have significant political implications for both the UK and Scottish governments, depending on how it goes down. It may finally settle the procedural issue that has dogged both sides of the constitutional debate since the Scottish National Party lost the first independence referendum in 2014. After a two-day hearing last month before five justices, led by Robert Reed, the chief justice. The hearing came after Scotland’s chief law officer, Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain, raised the question of whether Holyrood requires Westminster’s approval at the request of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Three successive Conservative prime ministers have refused to allow a second referendum, arguing that only Westminster has the legal power to approve one under the 1998 Scotland Act that established the Scottish Parliament. Should the high court rule in her favour, and with support for independence hovering around 50% in recent polls, Sturgeon has said she wants to hold the next referendum on October 19, 2023. If convicted, the SNP leader told her party’s conference in October that it would leave her with no choice but to “put our case for independence to the people at an election”. It is also an option for the court to ask the Scottish Government to raise the question at a later date after Sir James Eadie KC, for the UK Government, argued that the referral was premature and theoretical because any Bill submitted to the supreme court had first to be considered, amended and then approved by the FSA. Meanwhile, at least 14 pro-independence rallies are planned for the afternoon of the “judgment day” from the Scottish Borders to Orkney, along with five across Europe, as leading campaigners encourage supporters to be visible on this ” historic moment’, regardless of the judicial outcome. Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster and veteran independence campaigner, is organizing a rally at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh starting at 5.30pm. He said: “If the yes movement is to be visible across the UK and Europe, we need to reinvent activism. A movement exists to be bolder and more agile than government, and one thing we can do is get people out into the streets. “It is unbelievable that the world’s supposedly most powerful devolved parliament should rely on a court decision on whether to hold a consultative referendum.” SNP equality officer Kirsteen Fraser said the decision marked a historic moment and brought long-awaited clarity. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “It’s a time when people need to come together,” he said. “We’ve had two difficult years and it’s important that people remember that this is a movement that has global recognition.” Fraser said that while she was “not a natural flag bearer”, Wednesday’s rallies were an opportunity to show the “diversity of our movement”. This was echoed by Toni Giugliano, the SNP’s policy development conference, who said: “As a long-time SNP campaigner I have tended to prefer speaking to voters on the doorstep, but at an important time like this it is important to be visible in mass mobilization.” In his opening speech at the October hearing, Lord Reid said “it is likely to be some months before we give our decision”. But Wednesday marks just six weeks since that date.
