Scottish Independence: Queen is SNP ‘secret weapon’ on referendum

REVEALED: Why the words United Kingdom are not on the referendum question the SNP wants to put to the nation.The Queen may not realise it, but SNP figures have identified the Monarch as their secret weapon in the referendum campaign.

According to a senior SNP source, keeping the phrase United Kingdom off the ballot paper may persuade voters that independence does not threaten the traditional - and popular - role of the British monarchy. The SNP’s preferred question at present is simply to ask voters: “Do you agree Scotland should be an independent country?”

The source said: “We have been preparing for independence for 75 years and we have our backs covered on all the issues. It is about breaking up the political union, not the Union of the Crowns.

“As a result, that means that the referendum paper cannot have any reference about leaving the United Kingdom.”

He added: “The Queen is undoubtedly popular– and on a personal level she and the First Minister get on very well, as he does with Prince Charles. But by keeping the monarchy, it has helped with the presentational phrasing of the referendum question”.

However, that formula has been criticised by opponents as being “loaded”. With the Electoral Commission set to examine the fairness of the referendum – planned for 2014 – pro-Union campaigners are certain to insist that the question asks people whether they want to leave the UK. Polls have shown this depresses support for independence.

A spokesman for the First Minister said: “As a point of fact and Scottish Government policy, the 1603 Union of the Crowns will be maintained.”