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Strong supporter of an independence referendum: Scotland's Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
It has long been known that London is rejecting another Scottish independence referendum.
On Tuesday, the British government's lawyer also submitted London's written position to the country's highest court, the Supreme Court, a spokeswoman confirmed.
Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants her compatriots to vote again next autumn on whether Scotland should become an independent state.
In a referendum in 2014, a majority of Scots (55 percent) voted to remain in the UK.
However, that was before Brexit, which the northernmost part of Britain had rejected with a clear majority (62 percent).
The pro-independence advocates therefore hope that the situation will change if there is another vote, but London strictly rejects it.
Referendum without London?
Actually, for such a vote, the approval of the British government is necessary.
However, Sturgeon wants to hold the referendum in a lawful manner, if necessary, even without this consent.
Her government has therefore called in the Supreme Court to examine whether an "advisory vote" would be possible without the green light from London.
By "advisory" is meant that a pro-independence victory would not automatically secede Scotland from the UK.
London is convinced that this would be illegal.
"It remains the clear view of the British government that a referendum on independence would be outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament," said a spokeswoman.
The case is scheduled to appear in court in October.
col/dpa