SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE VOTE PLANS REJECTED

Britain’s highest court on Wednesday rejected a bid by the devolved Scottish government in Edinburgh to hold a new referendum on independence without London’s consent.

The ruling torpedoed the Scottish nationalist government’s push to hold a second plebiscite next year. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who leads the Scottish National Party (SNP), said she respected the ruling, but accused Westminster of showing “contempt” for Scotland’s democratic will.