Ross Finnie: Referendum question must be very clear,

There are two preliminary matters that need to be resolved if the issues are to be debated with some clarity and resolution. The first is the question to be asked. All the international evidence on referenda points to the fact that if the question to be asked is not clear and unambiguous then the debate before the vote can become confused, with a concomitant effect upon the outcome.

The SNP Government’s consultation on a referendum set out proposals for a multi-option referendum positing questions on extensions to the status quo and on independence.

There are precedents for holding a multi-option referendum but the question of independence is of a different order of magnitude to questions on variants of devolution and should be kept apart. My suggested question is: “Do you wish Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom? YES/NO”. A vote for the status quo is a vote for remaining within the UK – it is not a vote that precludes further change to the devolution settlement and a vote against the status quo is a vote to leave the UK.

In these circumstances, the debate that precedes the vote is grounded on a clear choice uncluttered by any third option of a variant to the status quo.

If such clarity is to be achieved, the second matter that needs to be resolved is the reservation in the Scotland Act which, if strictly applied, would appear to prevent the Scottish Parliament from calling a referendum with a direct question on independence.

The UK Government has indicated it would not interfere with the Scottish Government’s wish to hold a referendum. In such an important referendum, however, to restrict the form of question to be asked or leave the referendum open to legal challenge is undesirable. The two governments should sort this out – and soon.

• Ross Finnie is a former Liberal Democrat MSP and minister