Verdict due in indyref2 Supreme Court case

The Supreme Court will announce its judgement over the Scottish Government's indyref2 case next week, it has emerged.

The UK's highest court has been asked to determine whether or not the Scottish Parliament has the power to legislate for an advisory ballot on constitutional change.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain referred the matter to the London court after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed her plan to hold another vote in October 2023.

In 2014, the UK Government granted a Section 30 Order to allow Scotland to go to the ballot box. However, it has repeatedly refused to do so again.

Bain asked the Supreme Court for its judgement on whether it would be lawful to call a fresh referendum without such an Order, as she did not have the "necessary degree of confidence" on the matter.

Arguments on behalf of the Scottish and UK governments were heard in October and the Supreme Court has said it will announce its decision on the morning of Wednesday 23 November.

Westminster lawyers have argued that Holyrood lacks the power to legislate on the issue because the constitution is a reserved matter under the terms of the Scotland Act.