Independence vote may be ‘unlawful’, says Scotland’s lord advocate

Nicola Sturgeon holds a news conference on the proposed second referendum on Scottish independence. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Scotland’s lord advocate has confirmed she fears Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for a fresh independence referendum may be unlawful.

Dorothy Bain QC has now released the letter she wrote to the UK supreme court last week seeking its ruling on whether Sturgeon has the legal powers to stage a referendum without the UK government’s authority.