Lords report says Westminster power prevails

Published on Saturday 18 February 2012 01:18

SCOTTISH voters should be asked a single question on independence in the referendum, a new report from a House of Lords committee has said.

The report also challenges the SNP Government’s legal right to take charge of the vote and says that there is a “compelling case” for the involvement of the Electoral Commission in overseeing the referendum to act as an “important constitutional check on executive power”.

The House of Lords Constitution Committee report – Referendum on Scottish Independence – also said that the “UK government is correct” in insisting that the Scottish Parliament does not have the legal power to stage an independence referendum without the assistance of Westminster.

It went onto say that all UK voters had the legal right to a say over devo max – or full economic powers for Holyrood – and said that the SNP could not include it as separate option in the referendum,

The report said: “There should be a single referendum question on independence. Whereas both the UK government and the Scottish Government have recognised that independence is a Scottish question, ‘devolution max’ is not.

“Proper constitutional process requires that negotiations involving all parts of the United Kingdom precede any referendum on an agreed scheme of ‘devolution max’.”

Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary, Margaret Curran, said the report “ups the pressure on the SNP” to clearly set out the terms of the referendum vote.

She added: “We need to settle the legality and procedures for the referendum as quickly as possible and move on to debate the real issue of substance, which is about whether or not it is in Scotland’s national interest to be a part of the United Kingdom.”

A spokesman for the First Minister said: “It is ridiculous that unelected peers in the House of Lords should try to dictate the terms of Scotland’s referendum – the issue of whether an additional powers option is included in the independence referendum is one to be determined by people in Scotland, through the Scottish Government’s consultation.”

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korky

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 03:39 PM

They would say that. What do they say about the Scots mp,s voting in English only matters ?? Sort out your own affairs first. !!!

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9

Alicia Murray

Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 10:22 AM

Who cares what corrupt men in tights and wigs say. What they subject themselves for £300 a day! After 2014 we will not be contributing to their inflated idea of their own importance not their wallets.

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8

The Tin Man

Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 11:47 PM

His Alexness' ditherendum continues, unabated. Roll on 2013, when He might deign to inform the people what it is about. I would refer everyone to the redoubtable Lallands Peat Worrier, on the subject (worry not golf club bigots, for he is a nat).

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7

bridgetthecat

Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Yes the house of Pigs wants to keep hold of it's gravy train.

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6

marketgate

Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 12:46 PM

Why doesn't the MainStreamMedia (MSM) print an editorial giving the advantages of independence rather than just the disadvantages over and over. I, for one, would like to know where the money from the "block grant" goes every year, and how much of the "block grant" is generated from Scottish tax revenues. With independence, how much tax revenue will Scotland generate on its own, and where or on which projects will the money be spent? We know, now, that there is no "English" subsidy to Scotland; just the reverse. In Scotland, with 8.4% of the UK population, yet contributing 9.1% of the total UK tax revenue, the old "english" fallacy that Scotland is subsidized by English taxpayers, falls flat on its face. And about time, I might add! Please MSM, publish both advantages and disadvantages for Scotland to become independent. And further, if Mr. Cameron wants a simple, clear, unambiguous question, how about this: Do you agree that Scotland should become an independent country, AGAIN?

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5

samcoldstream

Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 12:31 PM

Decrepit old turkeys don't vote for an early Christmas.

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4

fourbyfour

Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 10:33 AM

This report is to be ignored.

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3

Intervention

Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 10:11 AM

So Westminster's referendum "consultation" is a sham

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douglas-home rule

Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 09:41 AM

Curran agrees with these placemen and democracy rejects that Scotland should toe Westminsters line. Devo Max SHOULD be on the ballot otherwise a substantial part of the electorate will be disenfranchised. If that is the democratic choice and is then rejected by Westminster, then there should be a recall referendum for a new choice. No doubt if Mr Darling wishes to join the ennobled, then he will have to lead against Independence and that will have been made clear to him. Bought and sold.

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allymax

Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 02:59 AM

' Lords report says Westminster power prevails '................Aye-Right! Wasn't it this lot, Westminster's Lords, that 'qualified' the 'sexed-up' JIC lies and 'creative-writing project by Alaister Campbell, yes, the same Campbell that lied and misled the nations of Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on the decision and declaration of war on Iraq?.......The same house of lords that voted for an increase of their troughing from the public purse. Tax-payers don't come cheap you know; and continued whitewashes and obfuscations on Bliar, David Kelly,a nd Robin Cook. ..The old-boy network, and peerages for favours, is not what we voted for.............The house of lords have nothing to say to Scotland; you are England's house of lords; not Scotland's!........Talk to the hand ye crinkly wretched duffers! allymax.

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