Tory MP tries to force immediate referendum

Published on Sunday 19 June 2011 17:17

A Conservative MP will this week try to convince Westminster to hold an immediate referendum on Scottish independence.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, Tory MP for North East Somerset, has lodged an amendment to the Scotland Bill calling for a referendum to be held within four months.

Mr Rees-Mogg will use the report stage and third reading of the Scotland Bill tomorrow to seek support for his amendment, which would effectively defer the bill as it stands and transform it into a referendum enabling act.

The amendment states that no provision of the final Scotland Act, which will devolve more powers to Scotland, is to come into force until a referendum is held in Scotland within four months of Royal Assent.

The question to be put to the Scottish people would be: "The Scotland Act increases the powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Should there be full independence for Scotland instead?"

The amendment states that if more votes are cast for "No" in the referendum, then the full Scotland Act shall come into force. However, if more votes are cast in favour of "Yes", then the Scotland Act shall not come into force.

A spokesman for Mr Salmond said the Scottish Parliament "is perfectly capable of bringing forward its own referendum proposals".