Labour vows to block 'unacceptable' independence referendum question

Published on Saturday 24 May 2008 20:18

LABOUR has issued a stern message that it will block the SNP's plans for an independence referendum, after one of its senior figures ruled out supporting the proposed bill.

Enterprise spokesman Iain Gray told a conference last week that the wording of the question which Alex Salmond wants to put to Scots was "unacceptable" to Labour.

Gray also declared that even if the parties did agree on the wording, Labour would also demand a second referendum to rubber-stamp the first.

His comments follow Wendy Alexander's controversial decision to back a referendum last month, when she told Salmond to "bring it on".

Subsequently, she declared that her support did not offer a "blank cheque" to the SNP, reserving Labour's right to challenge the wording of the referendum question.

Speaking at a conference on devolution, Gray said Labour's position was clear. "We would not veto it out of hand, (but] the question contained in the draft referendum bill is not acceptable to us."

Under the SNP's plans, Scots would be asked to agree or disagree as to whether "the Scottish Government should negotiate a settlement with the government of a United Kingdom so that Scotland becomes an independent state".

Labour claims the wording is too complex and that, for such an important issue, the question should be far more blunt.

Gray revealed the wording of the question Labour would be campaigning for – "Do you wish that Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom: yes or no?" He also revealed that even then, if the answer was 'no', Labour would very likely demand that another referendum would be required, pointing out that

should the SNP win the first referendum, that would trigger detailed negotiations with the UK Government over the separation of resources.

He said: "It is an indicative referendum and, therefore, it would still depend on negotiations with the United Kingdom Government. That would almost certainly require a second referendum."

Gray's claim that two referendums are required is backed by the Constitution Unit of the University College London, the foremost body in Britain on constitutional affairs.

However, in a speech last week, the director of the unit, Professor Robert Hazell, issued a stinging attack on Scottish Labour leader Alexander for having raised the prospect of supporting a referendum.

He said: "For the first time since devolution began, I can see it threatening the Union. But the threat comes not so much from the SNP but from clumsy defence by Unionists in the Labour party."

Hazell also criticised the Prime Minister's plans to put forward a "statement of values" that will sum up Britain.

"Gordon Brown's planned consultation on a British statement of values risks attracting derision and of prejudicing the Government's more important project of developing a British bill of rights," he said.

Meanwhile, Alexander was coming under further pressure at Holyrood amid claims that one of her senior aides, Mike Elrick, is to quit. He is believed to be unhappy at the way the referendum strategy was announced.