This is a major blow for Nicola Sturgeon’s ambition to hold a second independence vote next October. It almost certainly rules out that plan. 

But it’s not entirely surprising as the first minister’s own top law officer wasn’t fully convinced of the legal basis for Holyrood legislating for a referendum against Westminster’s approval. That is why the Supreme Court got involved.

Indy campaigners will not be deflated at this ruling. They are likely to see this as a stumbling block as they now pivot to plan B which is using the next general election as a defacto independence vote.

This will mean more rough and tumble of political back and forward.

Is it sustainable for Westminster to ignore the SNP’s run of election wins where they put independence front and centre? What is the route to ending the debate?

Almost every domestic issue in Scotland is seen through the prism of the constitution. Might this be the moment Prime Minister Rishi Sunak realises this isn’t going away and he agrees to enter talks about settling the issue once and for all?

Related posts:

PM accuses SNP of pushing for independence ‘regardless of cost’ Sturgeon to ask UK government to agree to second Scottish independence vote Ministers meet business people ‘by accident’, says cabinet colleague amid claims Patel broke rules ‘No politician is coming to save us’: New Unite boss distances herself from Labour under Starmer Alerts about foreign interference in British politics will become more common, home secretary warns Peers vote down government’s attempt to control protests PM says ‘nobody told me’ No 10 lockdown garden party was against the rules Government drops order to Tory MPs to block partygate parliamentary probe Met Police will not issue any partygate updates until after local elections Matt Hancock says it was his decision to resign following lockdown-busting clinch with aide Wales set to lift final remaining COVID restrictions ‘People’, ‘growth’, ‘energy’: How Liz Truss’s speech looks as a word cloud