A Question of Independence: How will the referendum work?

Published on Tuesday 7 February 2012 16:15

The debate over Scotland’s constitutional future has well and truly begun and Scotland’s national newspaper, The Scotsman, will be at the heart of the discussion as it unfolds over the next few months.

Working with our sister paper, Scotland on Sunday, and Scotsman Conferences, we will host A Question of Independence, a series of public policy conferences that will examine the big issues in the constitutional debate including the economy and monetary policy, defence and security, Scotland’s place in the world, and the welfare state.

The discussion will kick off with a conference on Thursday 8 March which will bring together some of the world’s leading experts on direct democracy with senior politicians to have a forensic discussion about the legal, practical and political issues arising from the referendum.

Already there is a national controversy over who should run the poll, what the questions should be and which body should ensure it is fair. There is even a debate over who is entitled to vote, with the Scottish Government arguing that 16 year olds should be allowed to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime poll.

Michael Moore, the Secretary of State for Scotland, has said that Westminster will seek to give the Scottish Parliament the legally binding power to hold such a referendum - with conditions on the impartiality of the procedure.

The Scottish Government insists it does not need permission from Westminster and has announced that its consultation document will be published next week. Both will be subject to the normal period of public consultation which our conference will feed into.

Delegates including those from legal firms, business leaders, civil servants, local government officials, academics, public affairs professionals, professional services, trade unions, the voluntary sector and faith groups should book for what promise to be a highly charged and thought provoking event.

Speakers:

Michael Moore MP, Secretary of State for Scotland

John Swinney MSP Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth.

Martin Sime, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

Christine O’Neill, Head of Public Law & Regulatory, Brodies LLP

Dr Alan Trench, expert on devolution and honorary senior research fellow at the Constitution Unit, University College London

Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University, one of Scotland’s leading political and polling experts.

Further speakers to be confirmed.

Information & Fees

We are pleased to offer the best value conference rates in Scotland:

Rate: £99 + VAT (10% discount for previous Scotsman Conference delegates)

Fees include refreshments, networking lunch and exclusive access to the Post Conference Reports.

For more information please email [e-mail] or give the team a call on: 0131 620 8656

To book your place please click here.

The Scotsman Conferences are half day events. Registration will be from 8.30am. The conference will draw to a close at approximately 1.00pm and be followed by a networking lunch.

Key Speaker: See speaker list above

Venue: The Scotsman Head Office (Map Details )

Time: 08 March 2012, at 08:30

Comments

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18

Canny Mann

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 05:54 AM

Vote YES for Indipendence. The consequences of staying in a Union that is no longer fit for purpose would be.No more sending Scots in the military to bleed and or die in illegal wars. Old age pensioners whose pensions were robbed by Gordon Brown would be made to pay for their care,debt until death. Students would be forced into huge amounts of debt if they are made to pay fees. The sick are held to ransom if prescription fees are reintroduced. A benefit would be, Scottish income would rise as Scots compete in an open market, enabling the repayment of the national debt far quicker than if still hobbled to a sinking england. Predictions suggest 24 years to pay of the debt dumped on the tax payers to bail out the banking system. Two of these banks had scotland in their name but little connection in reality to scotland but a big interest to their share holders. An england who continue to pay Fat Cat salaries and bonuses to the cronie classes both Labour and Conservative.The chances of a double dip recession has been forecast in the media. Such an event while still tied to the union would be far too damaging to scotland to have THATCHER the sequel under Cameron.Scotland took a 30 year hammering under the tories and Thatcher and again under Blair and Brown. Its time for Scotland to look after herself. Alba gu brath...

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17

allymax

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:00 AM

" Already there is a national controversy over who should run the poll, what the questions should be and which body should ensure it is fair. " --------------------- ---------------------- Well, I can reveal that I would, under no circumstances, allow the Electoral Commission to undertake the procedural authority; I've had a look at their new rule-changes, (News Release 25 Jan'), , and boy they're at it big time ! Needless to say,this info goes to the SNP Scottish Government too; allymax.

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16

iamthesmith

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:24 AM

15 Vote 'NO': Surely in 2.5 years, the voters will understand the implications of the question, whatever that question is. I can't believe that an abundance of people will arrive at a polling station without having made their decision already.

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15

Vote 'NO'

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:37 PM

Change the loaded question for a start. Only the idiot Gnats think it is worthy of a referendum. Everyone else thinks that they are stupid (but not wee, or poor), and that we need a less biased question.

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14

Intervention

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:33 PM

Will the BBC be impartial during the Referendum Campaign judging from the intervention over Alex Salmond banned from spoeakling on Rugby it seems not. Will they continue to have three anti Scottish independence spokespersons to the one SNP in such debates... ............................... tonight's Sports Nation programme ............................. featured long piece by Rangers supporter Gramam Speirs claiming the SNP will hijack the 2014 Commo0nwealtrh Gamers.for political ends ......... being a keen sports fan I must have missed any BBC debate about the UK political machine using the much closer 2012 Olympics.. to promote Britishness..................

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13

brownlie

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:01 PM

8 Simonsaid-------------If it's that easy how come you can never manage it then?

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12

Libra Personified

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:46 PM

10 Simonsaid. I hope you don't mind but I shall be reading out your post to some ardent Rangers supporters in my local this week.

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11

Libra Personified

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:38 PM

10 Simonsaid. Or you could just make a cross yourself on a bit of paper.

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10

Simonsaid

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:33 PM

"How will the referendum work? " ================================================= Easy wan this - ye jist turn up identify yersel, go intae a booth and piut a tick in a box - a couple o meenit job - no a twa and a hauf year job.

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9

New Unionism

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:25 PM

Surely the British sense of fair play will prevail? LOL LOL LOL

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8

Simonsaid

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:19 PM

1brownlie Will the Scotsman be taking an impartial view or will it continue to denigrate the Scottish Government including the use of mislead head-lines? ================================================= There is nothing easier than disparaging and belittling those who deserve it - e.g. – The SNP.

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7

Libra Personified

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:43 PM

And another thing. Your website reflects the poverty your publication is in. It doesn't work and we all know it. Because the evidence is there before our very eyes. ======================================================== If you cannot afford IT professionals then you cannot afford journalists. It's a bit like the lightbulb repair man who can tell the financial state of a place by their lightbulbs.

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6

Libra Personified

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:34 PM

Did Jim Traynor write this article? It reads like it sounds like him drumming up support for "Your Call". ====================================== "Scotland's National Newspaper"? The Scotsman is an Ediunburgh publication which has never outsold the Press and Journal nor the Courier. The title is self called and has never been justified.

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5

The Harder They Come

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:15 PM

[e-mail]

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4

Gibbo

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 07:15 PM

I know how it will work, first get our freedom, second secure our political borders, third secure our resoures, fourth use our wealth from our resources to make our country a better fairer place for our people, Lastly only join the EU if it is on our terms, no concessions that gives away our fishing,oil or territory.

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