Independence question

THE QUESTION of Scottish independence should be raised above party politics by allowing the Electoral Commission to run the referendum, according to northern isles MP Alistair Carmichael.

Mr Carmichael was speaking after Westminster’s Scottish affairs committee reported that the Scottish governments proposed question on independence is biased in favour of separation.

The Scottish government wants the question to be put to voters in 2014 to be: “Do you agree that Scotland should become an independent country?”

However independent researchers found such a question was more likely to elicit the “yes” vote the Scottish Nationalist Party wants.

The researchers also said the Scottish government should not be both player and referee and called for the Electoral Commission to adjudicate, an idea the SNP said was “devoid of credibility”.
 
The Scottish affairs committee argued against the SNP’s suggestion of creating a one-off commission to regulate the poll reporting back to the Scottish Parliament.
 
Mr Carmichael said: “Although some might suggest that arguing over the phrasing of the referendum question is simply splitting hairs it is clear that changing the way we ask a question can have a significant impact on the answer.
 
“UK government ministers have made clear throughout this process that what we need is a referendum that delivers a clear, unambiguous and binding result for the people of Scotland.



Advertisement3 of 11

“Allowing the Electoral Commission to oversee this process rather than the SNP would be one means of ensuring that we elevate the debate beyond party politics and focus on the issues.
 
“Once the question of whether Scotland wishes to remain as part of the UK is settled discussions over the future of devolution and the transfer of additional powers to Holyrood can continue.’