A panel of 5 judges in Britain's prime court docket will hear arguments at the moment in a case which may permit the Scottish Parliament to carry a second referendum on independence.
Nicola Sturgeon desires to carry one other vote on Scotland's future on October 19 subsequent 12 months - however the UK Authorities has constantly refused to grant a Part 30 order.
The SNP chief is asking the Supreme Court docket in London to rule if she will maintain one with out prior approval from Westminster.
It may take six to eight weeks earlier than judges subject their ruling.
The listening to is the most recent chapter within the Scottish Authorities's lengthy marketing campaign to carry an IndyRef2.
Why is the Supreme Court docket ruling on independence?
Nicola Sturgeon introduced earlier this 12 months her plans to carry a second independence referendum on October 19 subsequent 12 months - a proposal rapidly rejected by then PM Boris Johnson.
Liz Truss can also be in opposition to one other vote. She was requested through the Conservative management contest if she would granted Sturgeon permission, she replied: "No, no, no."
The then Overseas Secretary additionally branded the SNP chief an "consideration seeker" and stated the most effective factor to do was "ignore her". Sturgeon hit again claiming Truss quizzed her on learn how to get into Vogue journal after they met final 12 months.
The Supreme Court docket will hear arguments from attorneys representing each the UK and Scottish Governments.
What time does the Supreme Court docket listening to begin?
Justices Lord Reed, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Gross sales, Lord Stephens, Girl Rose will hear from either side through the two-day listening to.
The end result of the listening to within the UK's prime court docket shouldn't be anticipated till later this 12 months. The Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC will symbolize the Scottish Authorities as its prime legislation officer.
The Advocate Basic for Scotland, Lord Keith Stewart KC, is listed because the respondent. He represents UK ministers on problems with Scottish legislation.
What is going to the Scottish Authorities argue?
The Scottish Authorities's case has leaned closely on the vote being "advisory" fairly than "self-executing" and due to this fact has no actual impact on the Union.
In a 51-page submitting submitted in July, the Lord Advocate argued the Invoice would merely be to "verify the needs of the individuals of Scotland on their future".
She wrote: "The authorized results of the Invoice could be restricted to facilitating the holding of a referendum vote, figuring out these eligible to vote, the timing of the vote and affirming that the Referendums (Scotland) Act 2020 would apply."
What is going to the UK Authorities argue?
Either side have revealed a few of their authorized arguments within the months forward of Tuesday's listening to.
The UK Authorities, beneath successive Prime Ministers, has at all times maintained opposition to a second independence referendum.
In August, the Advocate Basic requested the Supreme Court docket to "decline to find out the reference", saying it's outwith the court docket's jurisdiction. Nonetheless, he additionally argued that even when the court docket does determine it has jurisdiction over the matter, Holyrood could be unable to carry a lawful referendum.
A referendum plainly pertains to reserved issues and is outdoors Holyrood's legislative competence, he argued. The Scotland Act states that "the Union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England" is a reserved matter.
What occurs if the Scottish Authorities loses the case?
Nicola Sturgeon informed MSPs earlier this 12 months that if the Supreme Court docket guidelines in opposition to the Scottish Authorities then she would make the following Basic Election, anticipated in 2024, a de facto referendum on independence.
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