DUMBARTON and the Vale's MSP says it's time to focus on the problems facing Scotland after the UK Supreme Court handed down its ruling on a second Scottish independence referendum.

The UK’s highest court ruled on Wednesday that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to hold a second independence referendum.

Reacting to the ruling, Jackie Baillie MSP said: "The Scottish Government were entitled to seek legal clarity on this question.

"The decision delivered by the Supreme Court today is clear and I thank them for their speedy work in this case.

"We must now focus on the problems facing our country and there are many which are impacting on people across the constituency in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, and Helensburgh and Lomond.

"These include the cost of living crisis and the ongoing problems which are crippling our NHS.

“There is not a majority in Scotland for a referendum or independence, neither is there a majority for the status quo.

"One thing is clear, there is a majority both here in Scotland and across the whole of the UK for change.

"Every part of our country deserves far better than more misery and decline under the out of touch Tories and the incompetent SNP."

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “disappointed” by the ruling of the UK Supreme Court, but claimed the decision “makes (the) case for Indy”.