This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36520856

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
IndyCamp group case rejected by 144 lawyers, court hears IndyCamp group bid to cite Queen as witness in eviction case
(35 minutes later)
Independence campaigners have told a Scottish judge they asked 144 legal firms to take on their case - but all of them said no. Independence campaigners have announced their intention to cite the Queen as a witness in their fight against eviction from Holyrood.
The group was in court to give updates on whether they had found a lawyer to fight eviction from outside Holyrood. The IndyCamp group described their vigil outside the Scottish Parliament as a "spiritual mission" inspired by "the second coming of Jesus Christ".
The Scottish Parliament has taken legal action against the IndyCamp group to oust them from the land they occupy. The parliament has taken them to the Court of Session in a bid to have them removed from the campus.
A date has yet to be set for a full hearing, but the judge previously gave the campers more time to find a lawyer. Judge Lord Turnbull has retired to consider the next steps in the case.
In May, he warned them he would want a detailed update on their efforts, and slammed them for "wasting time". The latest hearing was intended to let the group provide an update on their attempts to find a lawyer to represent them in court.
The camp was set up on the parliamentary estate in November 2015, with the IndyCamp group stating their intention to remain in place until Scotland is independent. In unusual scenes at the Court of Session, the hearing eventually saw the Queen cited as a witness, the rebirth of Jesus proclaimed and Lord Turnbull himself accused of "blasphemy".
'Spiritual mission'
Camper Richard McFarlane told Lord Turnbull that he had contacted 144 lawyers and firms, who all told him they were "too busy".
He explained that about half of the people taking part in the camp, which was set up in November with the goal of staying in place until Scotland is independent, were on a "spiritual mission".
He said Jesus Christ had returned to earth and was "the rightful monarch" of Scotland, calling for the Stone of Destiny to brought out for his "coronation".
The group appealed for extra time to try to find a lawyer, but this was rejected by Lord Turnbull after parliament representative Gerry Moynihan QC pointed out that public money was being spent on the case.
He said there was "no realistic prospect" of the group securing legal representation in the short term, and said the time had come for the case to move forward.
Having rejected earlier arguments by the campers based on the Declaration of Arbroath and the Act of Union, Lord Turnbull now wants to hear arguments from both sides about whether eviction would be "proportionate", specifically in light of the campers' human rights.
When he asked if the group would like to put forward any witnesses for this hearing, Mr McFarlane said he would like to call Queen Elizabeth, among other witnesses.
Mr Moynihan pointed out that witnesses would not be compelled to appear, meaning "Her Majesty would need to volunteer"; nevertheless, he formally opposed calling the monarch as a witness.
'Ridiculed belief'
Another respondent, Arthur Gemmill, then accused Lord Turnbull of "blasphemy", saying he had "ridiculed" his belief in God.
When asked to substantiate this claim, having been warned about the potential of committing contempt of court, Mr Gemmill said he could not find the passage in the written judgement, but insisted Lord Turnbull had insulted him at an earlier hearing.
He said that the judge had "dismissed my comment that only God could make laws for men", by saying "is that right" in a "derogatory" tone.
Lord Turnbull then rose to consider what he had heard.
The camp was set up on the parliamentary estate in November 2015, with the IndyCamp group citing the Democracy for Scotland vigil that campaigned for devolution as an inspiration.
The parliament's corporate body moved to have the group removed, arguing that they are taking up space without permission and could be compromising the political neutrality of the campus.The parliament's corporate body moved to have the group removed, arguing that they are taking up space without permission and could be compromising the political neutrality of the campus.
At a previous hearing, the group put forward arguments based on the Declaration of Arbroath and the 1707 Treaty of Union, questioning the legitimacy of the parliament and its right to hold land.
Judge Lord Turnbull rejected all of these points, but said he wanted to hear more from the parliament's lawyers as to why eviction was a "proportionate" response, specifically in light of the European Convention on Human Rights. A date is yet to be fixed for this hearing, which would see evidence put forward and witnesses led.
On 27 May, at the Court of Session, the group asked for four weeks to find a human rights lawyer to represent them.
Lord Turnbull accepted this, but warned that he would want to hear "chapter and verse" about their progress, having criticised them for causing a "complete and utter waste of time" in court previously.