Independence question should be put sooner rather than later

Published on Thursday 3 September 2009 21:51

IN MAKING the case for an independent Scotland, Alex Salmond is fond of quoting Charles Stewart Parnell, one of the great figures of Irish nationalism.

Such is his admiration, the First Minister chose to adorn his government's national conversation document, Choosing Scotland's Future, with his words.

Proclaiming his belief in self-determination, Parnell put it thus: "No man has a right to fix the boundary of the march of a nation; no man has a right to say to his country, 'Thus far shalt thou go and no further'."

Yesterday at Holyrood, there was more than an echo of Parnell in Mr Salmond's speech introducing his administration's legislative programme.

The First Minister declared that "the people of Scotland must be heard", adding that "this parliament should not stand in their way – let the people speak". Fine rhetoric, but let us examine exactly what Mr Salmond means by this proclamation.

In the draft referendum bill, the SNP government suggested that, under their proposals, Scots would be asked to state whether or not they agreed "that the Scottish Government should negotiate a settlement with the government of the United Kingdom so that Scotland becomes an independent state".

It does not take a legally trained constitutional draftsman to see this question for what it is: designed to get the answer that the Nationalists want.

It merely asks for the power to negotiate. Even among those who favour independence that is like writing a blank constitutional cheque, as there would be no opportunity to express an opinion on the final settlement negotiated under the referendum.

Yesterday, the three main opposition parties made it clear that they will not be supporting the legislation necessary to bring in the referendum. They may be right to oppose the plans as they stand, but they are wrong to be against the principle.

It is inevitable that Scotland will, at some point in the foreseeable future, be asked to vote on whether it wishes to remain part of the Union. Those who favour the United Kingdom remaining united are being short-sighted if they think the issue will go away.

It would be far better if the issue was put to the people of Scotland soon, as doing so would put an end to the continuous debilitating debate over the constitution.

The question, while drafted to be legally sound, should be simple: it should ask voters if they want Scotland to become independent. And it should simply offer two choices: yes or no.

A UK general election, suggested by some as the time for such a vote, would be the wrong time, as the issue would become confused with people's verdict on Labour at Westminster.

However, a party that offered an early referendum – and the only ones likely to do so would be David Cameron's Conservatives – might just find they won additional support at the ballot box.