FM cautioned against giving support to Regan indyref bill

It would legislate to allow the Scottish Government to hold a referendum on whether Scots believed Holyrood should have the power to hold indyref2; in effect, it would be a referendum on a referendum.

The bill was drafted in accordance with advice from constitutional law specialist Aidan O’Neill KC. O’Neill has previously argued the Supreme Court’s decision to block indyref2 was “judicial overreach”.

Carmichael told The National: “To my eye this is clearly a matter that is reserved under the Scotland Act. The Supreme Court judgment last year was pretty clear on this.

“At a time when Scotland’s public services in transport, health and education are creaking and the government has had to abandon its climate change targets, all this offers is more money spent tilting at windmills and distraction from the core business of government.”

But former justice secretary and Alba MP Kenny MacAskill said it was “no surprise that the UK parties are opposed to it”.

He said: “Obviously legal advice received by Scottish ministers cannot be discussed but as Alex Salmond has previously stated, a similar plan was well underway if David Cameron had attempted to block the first independence referendum.

“The Referendum Bill on the powers of the Scottish Parliament proposed by Ash Regan MSP was based on a supportive legal opinion by one of the country’s leading KCs.

“It’s a plan that can move the independence movement forward so it’s no surprise that the UK parties are opposed to it.”

Advice obtained by Alba previously from O’Neill, on the Supreme Court’s ruling on Nicola Sturgeon’s failed indyref2 plans, suggested the judges may have been acting “by way