A nation divided: what does Scotland’s constitutional future hold? 

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Scotland’s place in the union hangs in the balance. The Supreme Court is set to decide whether Nicola Sturgeon can hold her proposed 2023 independence referendum. If the verdict goes against the SNP, then Sturgeon’s Plan B is to place independence at the heart of the next general election campaign. The UK government is determined to prevent a rerun of the 2014 vote, while Labour is developing plans for further devolution and wider constitutional reform. Opinion polls reveal a nation split down the middle on independence. 

So what will the Supreme Court’s verdict mean? Where does the debate on independence go next? And what alternative constitutional scenarios could unfold in Scotland’s future?

On the day after the Supreme Court hearing, the Institute for Government hosted an event to discuss the court case, the legal and constitutional principles at stake, and explore how Scotland can move towards a stable future – inside or outside the union. 

On our expert panel were:

• Professor Aileen McHarg, Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at Durham Law School
• Rt Hon Jim Murphy, former Secretary of State for Scotland and former Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
• Stephen Noon, former Senior Policy Adviser to the First Minister of Scotland and strategist for Yes Scotland in the 2014 independence referendum
• Professor Adam Tomkins, John Millar Chair of Public Law at the University of Glasgow and former Scottish Conservative MSP

The event was chaired by Akash Paun, Senior Fellow of the Institute for Government.

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