Scottish referendum moves ‘premature’, says UK government

Lawyers advise supreme court that Sturgeon not entitled to a ruling on legality of holding a vote without Westminster's consent

Nicola Sturgeon's request for a supreme court ruling on the legality of holding a second Scottish independence referendum without Westminster's permission should be thrown out as premature", the UK government has suggested.

Scotland's lord advocate, Dorothy Bain QC, wrote to the supreme court at the first minister's request two weeks ago seeking clarity on whether the Holyrood parliament can legislate to stage a second referendum without clearance from Westminster under a section 30 order, which Boris Johnson has repeatedly refused to grant.