23-11-2022, 18:28
(23-11-2022, 13:48)0762 Wrote: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-scotland-63701835
As expected, the Supreme Court ruling by 8 x English judges, 2 x Scot judges, 2 x Welsh judges, 2 x Irish judges, rules against the democratic right of a Scot govt and Scot people to hold a referendum!!!So much for this voluntary Union that has been preached by all and sundry who are opposed to Scot self-determination. Nicola respecting the decision of the court and mass demos expected tonight all over Scotland. Ultimately, only politicians can settle this issue once and for all as it aint gonna go away. IN FACT, IT'S GONNA CAUSE AN ALMIGHTY POLITICAL STOOSHIE!!
To be fair, this ruling is just an interpretation of where the law stands on the mechanism for who is able to call to hold a referendum. As you say its ultimately up to the politicians to change that law if you want the Scottish Government to be the ones who decide if there is to be a referendum. SNP MP said it best for me when he points out that the Supreme Court doesn't make the laws it just interprets them and as he added what can be done to change this and how do you move forward.
I think Sturgeon is purely playing politics with this one. Her advisors will have told her this would be the outcome but for her is suits her narrative that its all Westminster's fault. She will lead the party in the next election on the back of "It's not my fault" and then make the next election a de facto referendum. That could be a risky move for her even if she wins the election because even at the last election the SNP only got 45% of the vote but the FTTP system delivered 81% of the seats. Even if you add in the Greens this leaves over 54% of the population voting for parties who are not for independence at this stage.
On the other hand, if she spins this as London telling Scots what they can and can't do then it could be a vote winner!!