SNP snub 'means poll will not be policed'

Published on Sunday 19 June 2011 17:17

Funding for the independence referendum campaign will not be properly policed because the SNP is refusing to allow the Electoral Commission to be involved, the UK government has claimed.

The SNP yesterday said it intended to press ahead with plans contained in the 2009 white paper – which state that the Electoral Commission would not have oversight over campaign funding. Instead Holyrood will set up a Scottish Referendum Commission.

But yesterday the Conservative Scotland Office minister David Mundell hit out at the SNP's plans, saying it would "hardly inspire confidence" in the campaign.

Meanwhile, the Tory leader in Holyrood, Annabel Goldie, accused the SNP of trying to exploit its majority in the Scottish funding for the independence referendum campaign will not be properly policed because the SNP is refusing to allow the Electoral Commission to be involved, the UK government has claimed.

The SNP yesterday said it intended to press ahead with plans contained in the 2009 white paper - which state that the Electoral Commission would not have oversight over campaign funding. Instead Holyrood will set up a Scottish Referendum Commission.

But yesterday the Conservative Scotland Office minister David Mundell hit out at the SNP's plans, saying it would "hardly inspire confidence" in the campaign.

Meanwhile, the Tory leader in Holyrood, Annabel Goldie, accused the SNP of trying to exploit its majority in the Scottish Parliament to control the campaign.

The row has broken out as it was revealed that the SNP's war chest has been boosted by 1 million, bequeathed to it by the late poet Edwin Morgan.

The row centres on whether the Electoral Commission could be given the legal authority to be involved in the referendum campaign.

Last night the Scottish Government said Mr Mundell had misunderstood the legal situation and the Electoral Commission could not be formally involved, even with new legislation. But Mr Mundell has made it clear that the UK government would be willing to help with legal issues such as giving the Electoral Commission authority to oversee a referendum if the Scottish Parliament's powers were too constrained.

Mr Mundell added: "This action by Mr Salmond is hardly likely to inspire confidence in the referendum. It is interesting that the Electoral Commission was good enough to oversee the campaign the SNP just won in the recent Holyrood election, but apparently is not good enough for a referendum."

Mr Mundell repeated an offer made to the SNP for the UK government to work with the Scottish Government "to make sure there are no legal issues" with the referendum.

Mr Mundell added: "We have a respect agenda with Scotland and the Scottish Government but the problem is that respect has to go both ways, especially when we are trying to be helpful."

Ms Goldie said: "We all remember Kenny MacAskill's now infamous quote 'he who pays the piper calls the tune'. So this approach to campaign funding for the referendum is extremely questionable. Alex Salmond clearly wants to decide who the piper will be."The SNP also attacked Mr Mundell's suggestion at the weekend that the UK government may not accept a Yes vote on the question of more powers for the Scottish Parliament giving Scotland fiscal autonomy.

This followed an earlier furore when Liberal Democrat Scottish Secretary Michael Moore suggested there would need to be two referendums if Scotland voted Yes to independence, a suggestion that was stamped on by David Cameron.

A spokesman for the First Minister said last night: "With every passing briefing the Scotland Office's position seems to become more and more confused. They have gone from a position of saying there should be two referendums, to accepting there should only be one, and now Scotland's sole Tory MP appears to be suggesting he wants to veto any Yes vote for more powers for Scotland's Parliament."

He added: "We regard this latest briefing as more of a muddle than an attempted Tory fiddle - and we are content to instead proceed on the basis of the Prime Minister's clear and unambiguous statement respecting the right of the Scottish Parliament to bring forward an independence referendum, with no obstacles put in the way of a democratic vote by the people of Scotland."

The SNP described the late national poet Edwin Morgan's support for Scottish independence as "humbling and inspiring" amid reports he left almost 1m to the party in his will.

Mr Morgan died aged 90 at his care home in Glasgow in August last year. He was recognised as one of the great poets of the 20th century and was appointed "Scots makar", in effect Scotland's poet laureate, in 2004 by then First Minister Jack McConnell.

The SNP has said it does not know how it intends to use the money yet, but it is expected to be the first of many large donations coming the party's way as it gears up for the referendum.