UK Supreme Court says no to Scotland’s plan to hold independence vote
- November 24, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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UK Supreme Court says no to Scotland’s plan to hold independence vote
Subject :Polity
Context:
- Britain’s Supreme Court has ruled that Scotland’s government cannot unilaterally hold a second referendum on whether to secede from the United Kingdom,
When was the issue:
- The government did allow a referendum in 2014, in which a majority of Scots voted to remain in the United Kingdom, by 55 percent to 45 percent.
- The independence question was complicated two years later in the June 2016 vote over Brexit in which the Scots strongly backed remaining in the European Union, by 62 percent to 38 percent.
When did Scotland and England unite:
- The Act of Union between Scotland and England was signed on Jan. 16, 1707.
- It came into effect on May 1 of that year, creating the United Kingdom of Britain.
- The Scottish Parliament was dissolved, and a single Parliament was created at Westminster in London.
What was the supreme court ruling:
- The Scottish Parliament does not have the power to stage a referendum on independence without consent from the British government,
- The Scottish Parliament can’t legislate on the matter, as on union the power is held by the British Parliament sitting in the Palace of Westminster in London.
Types of Direct Democracy
- Direct democracy has 4 devices – Referendum, Initiative, Recall and Plebiscite
- Referendum – procedure in which a proposed legislation is referred to the electorate for acceptance through direct voting.
- Initiative – method by means of which the people can propose a bill to the legislature for enactment.
- Recall – way for voters to remove a representative or an officer before the expiry of his/her term, when he fails to discharge his duties properly.
- Plebiscite – method of obtaining the opinion of people on any issue of public importance. It is generally used to solve territorial disputes.