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Ais-eòlas
Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum
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Published: Friday 27 Feb 2026 (CEEACS062026R02)
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Introduction
International Law
International comparators
UK constitutional arrangements
Comparison with international examples
The right to decide
Trigger mechanisms
Statutory trigger mechanisms
Northern Ireland arrangements
Non-statutory trigger mechanisms
Conclusions
Annexe A: extract from advisers' briefing
Annexe B: text disagreed by division
Annexe C: extracts from meeting minutes
Sources
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Scottish Parliament. (2025). Democratic pathways to a second Scottish independence referendum: Committee advisers’ briefing. Retrieved from
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2025/democratic-pathways-to-a-second-scottish-independence-referendum-advisers-briefing.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Professor Stephen Tierney written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2025/stephen-tierney-legal-mechanism-for-triggering-any-independence-referendum.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Dr Lea Raible written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/dr-lea-raible--options-for-a-legal-mechanism-for-any-independence-referendum-inquiry.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Professor Aileen McHarg written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2025/aileen-mcharg-legal-mechanism-for-triggering-any-independence-referendum.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Professor Nikos Skoutaris written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/professor-nikos-skoutaris--options-for-a-legal-mechanism-for-any-independence-referendum-inquiry.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Professor Adam Tomkins written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2025/adam-tomkins-legal-mechanism-for-triggering-any-independence-referendum.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Official Report, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting, 13 November 2025. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/committee-official-reports/ceeac-13-11-2025?meeting=16688
UK Government. (2025). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2025/uk-government-options-for-a-legal-mechanism-for-triggering-any-independence-referendum
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Dr Elisenda Casanas Adam written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/dr-elisenda-casanas.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Professor Nicola McEwan written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/professor-nicola-mcewen.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Official Report, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting, 27 November 2025. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/committee-official-reports/ceeac-27-11-2025?meeting=16731
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Professor Alan Renwick written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/professor-alan-renwick.pdf
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Official Report, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting, 18 December 2025. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/committee-official-reports/ceeac-18-12-2025?meeting=16774
Scottish Parliament. (2025). Official Report, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting, 11 December 2025. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/committee-official-reports/ceeac-11-12-2025?meeting=16753
Professor Kezia Dugdale and Stephen Noon. (2024). Scotland and the Constitution: Agreeing a way forward. Retrieved from
https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/glasgowsocialscienceshub/resources/all/headline_1113259_en.html
Scottish Government. (2025). Written submission. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/correspondence/2025/scottish-government-relating-to-legal-mechanism-for-triggering-any-independence-referendum
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