Recent Reports
Aithisgean ùra
Committee Reports
Aithisgean Chomataidh
Research Briefings
Brathan-ullachaidh Rannsachadh
Feedback
Ais-eòlas
Recent Reports
Aithisgean ùra
Committee Reports
Aithisgean Chomataidh
Research Briefings
Brathan-ullachaidh Rannsachadh
Feedback
Ais-eòlas
Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Options for a legal mechanism for triggering any independence referendum
SHARE
PDF
Published: Friday 27 Feb 2026 (CEEACS062026R02)
Expand
Report
Hide
Hide
Report
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
prev
next
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
Last Updated: 6/5 2:15pm
An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.
Refresh
BACK TO TOP
