Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced on Tuesday that the Scottish parliament would publish an independence referendum bill, with a vote on secession scheduled for October 19, 2023.

Sturgeon said she would write to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to request permission to hold a consultative referendum, emphasizing the importance of the vote being legal. She stated that the matter would be referred to the United Kingdom Supreme Court.

Scotland's voters, who number around 5.5 million, rejected independence in 2014. However, Scotland's semi-autonomous government says that Britain's exit from the EU, which was opposed by a majority of Scots, necessitates a second referendum.

Johnson and his ruling Conservative Party, which is in opposition in Scotland, are staunchly opposed to a referendum, claiming that the issue was settled in 2014 when Scots voted 55% to 45% against independence.

Moreover, the UK Prime Minister is playing games with Ireland and using it as a pawn in the country's ongoing trade battle with the European Union following the Brexit deal, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said on May 15 right before Johnson's trip to Northern Ireland.