Countdown to a vote on independence: Questions and Answers

Published on Sunday 29 January 2012 00:00

Scotland on Sunday’s Political Editor, Eddie Barnes, examines some of the frequently asked questions about the referendum, and provides answers to them

What happens this week?

Alex Salmond is to meet Scottish Secretary Michael Moore for talks in Edinburgh to discuss the referendum. UK sources believe they are close to a deal under which they transfer powers to Holyrood, allowing it to hold a clear referendum on independence.

What are the sticking points?

UK ministers are likely to accept Alex Salmond’s preferred date for the referendum – but only if he first rules out putting a second question on the ballot paper. Salmond has so far refused to do so. Equally, there are doubts within the coalition about the fairness of Salmond’s proposed question, though UK ministers may be content to leave that to the Electoral Commission, the body overseeing the poll.

And if it isn’t resolved?

Salmond last week conceded that he can’t put forward his preferred straightforward question on independence without getting the necessary legal powers from the UK Government (UK ministers say he hasn’t got the legal powers for any referendum). If there’s no deal, he indicated he would then revert to a convoluted question designed to get around the law which would face either being thrown out by the Electoral Commission or being caught up in the courts.

Will he also be having talks with other Scottish parties?

Yes. Salmond accepted an offer from Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont last week to discuss the framing of the referendum. Bodies such as the STUC have also suggested an independent body be set up to referee the process, fearing it could get bogged down in political nit-picking.

Any chance the Scottish Government will start telling people about actual independence soon?

Not likely. Salmond last week revealed that the SNP Government won’t publish its detailed white paper on independence until November 2013 – although SNP sources say they will be bringing forward plans before then. For now, the sparring over the process of the referendum looks set to run.

And if they win, what then?

The SNP proposal suggests that the Scottish elections timetabled for 2016 would be the first for a new independent Scottish Parliament. However, that would mean all negotiations being wrapped up between Edinburgh and London in a year and a half, with a UK General Election in the middle. At the moment, nothing is certain.

Comments

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14

yperman

Monday, February 6, 2012 at 06:02 PM

If Independence is won will The Queen hand over to Scotland the historic records, manuscripts, Scottish art, artefacts and Scots Crown Jewels that she currently keeps on behalf of the people of the UK?

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13

briteric

Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 12:28 AM

We are doomed So I take it when Independence comes you and your like will be leaving. Scotland, why sta.. Oh what will we do without you.

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12

GERARDCORK

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:20 PM

Independence is probably good for Scotland - your industry has been decimated and your oil plundered under London's rule - however the Scottish people have to realise that independence will not be easy - if you are to successfully make it as an independent country then you need to learn from the mistakes of Ireland - you need to have a sustainable, guiding vision of what Scotland is to be in 50 years time, widely understood and easily articulated in economic terms, in societal terms and in cultural terms. What is the point of independence if all you create is a mini-UK or a Scottish flavoured England. Also and most importantly, beware of the enemy within - corruption and dominance by vested interests abound. Ireland has been beset in the 20th century by dominant local narrowminded, tight fisted, self-serving cliques (including the professional classes, local retailers, the trade unions and their client politicians) who took over from the Anglo-Irish horse protestant landowning clique who ran everything in the 18th & 19th centuries. An independent Scotland should be outgoing, shamelessly idealistic and altruistic in its pursuit of social democratic and cultural values. Leaving the UK on the basis of short-termist monetary benefits will leave an independent Scotland vulnerable to the first recessionary event. Starting a new country is easy - establishing an independent mindset is not!

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11

Derick fae Yell

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 10:03 PM

Once upon a time there was a tiny, tiny chicken named Chicken Little. One day Chicken Little was scratching in the Scottish garden looking rather unsuccessfully for The Positive Case for The Union when something fell on her head. "Oh," cried Chicken Little, "the sky is falling. I must go tell the Queen." So Chicken Little ran and ran, and she met Ruthie Woothie, Rennie Wennie and Johannie Wannie [and various journalistic hacks incl a mad one with a Mugabe obsession] "Where do you travel so fast, Chicken Little?" asked Ruthie Woothie, Rennie Wennie and Johannie Wannie "Ah, three amigos" said Chicken Little, "the sky is falling, and I must go and tell the Queen" "How do you know that the sky is falling, Chicken Little?" asked the three amigos "I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head," said Chicken Little. Likely a satellite. "We will go with you to the Queen," said the 3 amigos So they ran along together, and they met Foxy Loxy Cammy Wammy. "Where do you travel so fast, Chicken Little?" asked Foxy Loxy Cammy Wammy. "Ah,Foxy Loxy Cammy Wammy." said Chicken Little, "the sky is falling, and we go to tell the Queen." "Do you know the way to the Queen's house?" asked Foxy Loxy Cammy Wammy - "I went to school with her footman you know". "No," said Chicken Little. "No," said the three amigos. "Haud On," said Chicken Little. "we baith like the horses, and sometimes hae oor tea together. I've been to her hoose," Ignoring this plebbish comment, Foxy Loxy Cammy Wammy sand "Then come with me and I will show you," And just as he was about to lead them into his den to eat them... ...the sky fell on him. "Oh dear," said Chicken Little. "We're too late," said the three amigos. "Poor Foxy Loxy Cammy Wammy," said Ruthie Woothie. "No sense in going to the Queen," said Rennie Wennie. "Nothing to do now but go home," said Johannie Wannie. And they did. And went to New York with their wee blue flag. And lived happily ever after.

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10

Finnzz

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 08:16 PM

Well Velv, you've certainly opened the proverbial Pandoras Box there. Perhaps all Scotland has to do is what every other small European country already does and form its own Civil Service to perform these functions.........................But wait, there is already a very large IRC office called Centre 1 in Glasgow. The Capital and Savings dept and Valuation office is in Edinburgh, regional offices in Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee already exist.................................. Sky operates very efficiently in Rep of Ireland so why they should not do so in an Independent Scotland would baffle me..............................................................Ofcom have representation in Scotland and information can be found here..http:www.ofcom.org.ukaboutofcom-in-the-nations-and-regionsofcom-in-scotland. OFGEM have offices in Glasgow .........................................................................The RNLI is a charity and funded entirely from public contributions.They even have a fundraising office in Perth................That took me about 3 minutes to find out, why don't you try the same. Or are you being deliberately obtuse....

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9

Derick fae Yell

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 07:58 PM

where will we get the props to keep the sky from falling?............................................................................................................And where will we get the plasters for the plagues of boils?'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''And What about the plagues of mice - how will we be able to afford all the mousetraps? Will England still send us mousetraps? oh dearie me, I'm feart!

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8

Velv

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 06:45 PM

How will we stop the energy companies quitting Scotland? What about BT? These have a legal obligation to supply everyone in the UK, but that will end when the UK splits. Are the SNP going to nationalise them to provide a universal service, or are those in rural areas going to be left in the dark? What about Sky TV? Will it remain cost effective to have customers in Scotland if Sky need to buy the programmes twice? Will the RNLI be able to continue to cover the entire coast of Great Britain? We need to ensure the law is written such that we don't make it impossible for them to operate. There are SO many questions that need answered.

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7

Velv

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 06:29 PM

Has anyone asked the real questions? How will we RUN an independent Scotland? We need to set up our own Inland Revenue. We need to set up our own DVLA. How will we run a postal service (the Royal Mail Universal Obligation will end with the Union, and no commercial company will offer an economical service outside cities). How will we control the banks, insurance companies, energy companies and telecoms - Scotland will need to set up an equivalent to OFCOM, OFGEM and the FSA. All the services we take for granted will need to managed under new agreements, and that takes time and money.

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6

McDuff

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 05:30 PM

London should have no involvementin in the referendum, Have all the Unionists out there read the McCrone report.

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5

well informed

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 03:08 PM

"Any chance the Scottish Government will start telling people about actual independence soon?"--------------------------------------------------------- ANY CHANCE ANYBODY WILL START TO EXPLAIN DEVOLUTION TO THE SCOTTISH PEOPLE ANY TIME SOON?

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4

well informed

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 03:06 PM

"Salmond last week conceded that he can’t put forward his preferred straightforward question on independence without getting the necessary legal powers from the UK Government (UK ministers say he hasn’t got the legal powers for any referendum). If there’s no deal, he indicated he would then revert to a convoluted question designed to get around the law which would face either being thrown out by the Electoral Commission or being caught up in the courts."---------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT UTTER GARBAGE!!! BARNES YA LYING GIT!!!

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3

Ron Greer

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 10:46 AM

Why have threats of a mysterious 'tartan terrorist' group emerged just as the SNP are doing well in a constitutional debate? Has someone in the Perfidious Albion Office released a memo too soon?

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2

The West Awake

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 10:20 AM

Appointing Barnes to this position is the journalistic equivalent of appointing Tony Blair as a "middle east peace envoy". We can expect fairness and objectivity from Barnes with the same confidence we can look forward to a long, scorching summer.

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1

Tiny

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 09:38 AM

Once again the spurious, deceitful and pathetic bias of this newspaper rears it's ugly head. The only side trying to limit debate is the scaremongering Unionist side who cannot even manage this as each scare story is eliminated within minutes for the blatant lies and propaganda they so clearly are!

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