Scotland does not have the power to hold a referendum on independence without the approval of the British parliament, dashing hopes of a second vote next year on whether Scots want to leave the UK.
The decision was issued by Britain's Supreme Court on Wednesday, which ruled that the Scottish parliament could not legislate on the matter.
The court took the side of the British government, which argued that "fundamental matters" - such as the fate of the Union - were held in power by the British Parliament sitting in the Palace of Westminster in London.
The British government - led by Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and now Rishi Sunak - has indicated that it opposes a second referendum.
The British government allowed a referendum in 2014, which saw a majority of Scots vote to remain in the UK, by a margin of 55% to 45%.
The independence question was complicated two years into the June 2016 vote on Brexit - with Scots strongly in favor of remaining in the EU by 62% to 38%.
On his part, Johnson argued that the 2014 referendum was a "once in a generation" vote and that the issue was settled.
Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has been pushing for a referendum in October 2023.
The independence question was complicated two years later in the June 2016 vote over Brexit — in which the Scots strongly backed remaining in the EU by 62% to 38%.
Sturgeon leads the Scottish National Party, the country's biggest vote-getter, which is seeking independence, and says there is an "undisputed mandate" for another vote.
Sturgeon said on Twitter, “A law that doesn’t allow Scotland to choose our own future without Westminster consent exposes as myth any notion of the UK as a voluntary partnership & makes case for Indy,” short for the second referendum.
“Scottish democracy will not be denied,” she said. “Today’s ruling blocks one route to Scotland’s voice being heard on independence - but in a democracy, our voice cannot and will not be silenced.”
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