Defeat for EU supporters: Court rejects Scottish independence referendum

Eight years ago, the majority of Scots voted for union with Great Britain.

Defeat for EU supporters: Court rejects Scottish independence referendum

Eight years ago, the majority of Scots voted for union with Great Britain. But because of Brexit, Scotland's head of government wants to start a new referendum. However, the UK Supreme Court rejected the plan.

A new independence referendum in Scotland is a long way off. The highest British court in London said the Scottish regional parliament had no right to schedule a referendum. The judges followed the arguments of the British government.

Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon had announced that she would uphold the Supreme Court's decision. But then she wants to turn the next British general election into a quasi-referendum and only contest the election campaign of her Scottish National Party (SNP) with the demand for independence.

In a first referendum in 2014, a majority of Scots voted to remain in the union with Great Britain. For London, the question is thus decided in the long term. But Prime Minister Sturgeon argues that Brexit, which the Scots clearly rejected in 2016, has changed the situation. She wants to lead an independent Scotland back into the EU. In Parliament in Edinburgh, pro-independence is in the majority.