As I see it, if you are right, SNP could elect a presiding officer that interprets the devoluation as allowing an advisory referendum, and the Scottish authorities could move on to hold a referendum. If the result is a yes, then the Scottish parliament declares independence. If any step is challenged in court the Scottish government needs only to stall and continue with its actions. An independent Scotland will not fall under UK jurisdiction anyway.

The UK government can at any time stop this by sending in the troops, closing the Scottish parliament and turning it into another type of conflict. But I do not think that would happen.

In general assemblies that declare independence does not have a legal right to do so within the previous state. The crucial point is if they are believed to have the moral right.

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