Nicola Sturgeon is confident that a second referendum on Scottish independence can be held next October, she said on Sunday, Reuters reported.

The Scottish prime minister’s statement comes as Britain’s highest court on Tuesday begins hearing arguments over a possible secession vote without the approval of British Prime Minister Liz Truss and her government.

In a 2014 referendum approved by the British government, Scots rejected independence by 55% to 45%.

However, the Scottish National Party (SNP) says Britain’s vote to leave the European Union two years later has changed the situation.

Sturgeon argues that because voters backed pro-independence parties in last year’s Scottish Parliament election, they had a mandate to put forward a bill for a referendum on October 19, 2023.

Asked in a BBC TV interview whether she was sure it would happen, Sturgeon said: “Yes, I’m sure it could happen.”

“We will wait for what the court will say. I am sure that Scotland will become independent,” she added.

What is option B, if the court does not approve the referendum

Sturgeon promised that a Supreme Court defeat would mean the SNP would fight the next UK general election in 2024 solely on a platform of Scottish independence, making it a “de facto” referendum.

On Sunday, Sturgeon said it was a last resort: “It’s not my best option.”

“If the proper way to consider and resolve this issue is blocked, which is a legitimate constitutional referendum, … then the choice will be simple: we will put our case to the people at the polls, or we will abandon Scottish democracy, and I want to say today clearly, that I will never, ever give up on Scottish democracy,” she added.