If the SNP win a majority in the Scottish Parliament elections in May, Nicola Sturgeon will declare they have a mandate for a second independence referendum. Boris Johnson has said he will refuse to allow one. But can he can really resist? Prof Aileen McHarg explains the legal issues; James Forsyth the politics, and the need for an alternative offer; and Dr Alan Renwick the referendum process, if the Scots are to make a fully informed decision.

• Prof Aileen McHarg is Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at Durham Law School
• James Forsyth is political editor of The Spectator magazine
• Dr Alan Renwick is Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit and Associate Professor in British Politics at UCL

Chair: Prof Meg Russell, the Director of the Constitution Unit and Professor of British and Comparative Politics at UCL

Background reading

James Forsyth, ‘A flat No to Nicola Sturgeon won’t save the Union’

Aileen McHarg, Blog on Pathways to Indyref2

Alan Renwick and the Constitution Unit's work on referendums:

Improving Discourse in Elections and Referendums

Independent Commission on Referendums

Links:

Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit

Mailing list: www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/get-involved/mailing-list

Blog: constitution-unit.com