Electoral Commission to test referendum wording

THE SNP has agreed to let the UK Electoral Commission test the wording of the independence referendum question that will appear on the ballot paper.

SNP strategy minister Bruce Crawford confirmed the move yesterday, as the Scottish Government’s independence referendum closed at midnight after receiving more than 21,000 responses.

He said: “As part of its role, the commission will also be asked to conduct the testing of the ballot paper.”

John McCormick, electoral commissioner for Scotland, welcomed the minister’s announcement, which will also see the body having responsibility for regulating the referendum.

He said: “Our priority has always been that any referendum must be run in the interests of voters. We therefore welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement that it wants us to play a role in both regulating the referendum and undertaking independent testing of the referendum question. We look forward to sorting out the precise details with them in the coming months.”

Meanwhile, former Scottish Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan said that independence referendum should be declared a public holiday, in his submission to the Scottish Government’s referendum consultation.