tonight at ten a date is formally proposed for a new referendum on scottish independence. the scottish government wants it to take place on the 19th of october next year subject to legal consent. my determination is to secure a process that allows the people of scotland, whetheryes, no, or yet to be decided, to express their views in a legal, constitutional referendum. eight years after the last referendum the prime minister says there are more important priorities for government. our plan for a stronger economy certainly means that we think we are stronger working together. we ll be looking at the likelihood of a referendum being held within 16 months. also tonight. the campaigner dame deborahjames host of the bbc s you, me and the big c has died at the age of a0. in ukraine, the aftermath of russia s attack on a shopping centre at least 20 people were killed and dozens injured. in new york, ghislaine maxwell is sentenced to 20 years for helping jeffrey epstein
government s hope that the question in this bill, proposing a referendum thatis in this bill, proposing a referendum that is consultative and not self executing, and which would seek to ascertain the views of the scottish people for or against independence, will be deemed to be within the legislative competence of the parliament, and if that outcome is secured, there will be no doubt at all that the referendum is lawful. i can confirm that the government will then immediately introduce the bill and asked parliament to pass it on a timescale that allows the referendum to proceed on the 19th of october next year. it is possible that the supreme court will decide the scottish parliament does not have power to legislate even for a consultative referendum and to be clear, if that happens, it will be the fault of westminster legislation and not the court. and not the court. laughter members- and not the court. laughter members. that and not the court. laughter members. that is and not