Judge’s at Britain’s Supreme Court have begun hearing evidence on whether Scotland’s Parliament can legislate to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence.

Scotland’s first minister wants to hold a new independence vote in October of 2023, despite opposition from the Conservative U-K government in London.

Dorothy Bain, the Scottish government’s top law officer, outlined her case to a panel of five judges on Tuesday.

The court’s president says it will likely be months before it gives a judgment.

Scottish voters rejected independence by a margin of 55 per cent to 45 per cent in a 2014 referendum.