Scottish independence referendum: Civic leaders aim to enable voice of the ordinary Scot

ORDINARY Scots are being frozen out of the independence debate as politicians squabble over the referendum, civic leaders have warned.

The message came from a coalition of business, union, religious and third sector chiefs, which launched in Edinburgh yesterday, to set out the “voice of the Scottish people” .

Voters have been left “puzzled” after recent political spats over who controls the referendum and whether a third option of more powers for Holyrood could appear on the ballot paper, it was claimed.

Supporters of the movement also argued that key questions for the future of Scottish business need to be answered as part of the debate and that a middle ground between the status quo and full-blown seperation should be given more attention.

“To make a decision about Scotland’s future simply by looking at the very narrow political discussion we’ve had so far is inadequate,” said Alison Elliot, of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).

“The purpose of this initiative is to enable the debate about Scotland’s future to make a connection so far lacking with the things that matter to people in this country.”

The coalition is to consider all options, including “devo-max”, or more powers for Holyrood, as well as full independence and the status quo. But it has not been set up to push for any particular outcome or argue for a second question on more powers. A website, “The Future of Scotland” is being launched and a conference will be staged in March.

Ms Elliot added: “Most people in Scotland don’t have a hand-on-their-hearts view on this matter. It’s not an emotional tie for most people in Scotland – they’re puzzled about it.

“They don’t know where to go and they want to have time to reflect on what this is going to mean for people in poverty in Scotland, for the environment. These are all the type of questions which I think people care about in their daily life.

“I hope this will enable them to make a connection between these questions and the question they will eventually have to answer. That is the first and foremost purpose.”

The Rev Ian Galloway said the Church of Scotland historically supported devolution, on the basis that the people “needed to be as close as possible” to the issues affecting the country.

“There does seem to be a reluctance to have a wider debate and that’s what we want to see happen,” he said.

“I have often been left sadly disappointed by the questions that political parties engage with as to what they think are the most important things.”

Political leaders have also failed to address key questions on the future landscape for Scottish businesses, according to David Watt, from the Institute of Directors.

“What are the answers to the economic questions? And there are massive ones that clearly haven’t been answered,” he said.

“That’s a political debate that we really want to stimulate – get the politicians to answer some very significant questions about what’s going to happen in the future. There massive questions and we need answers to them.”

Westminster and Holyrood are currently in deadlock over who controls the referendum, with coalition ministers insisting only they have the legal authority. Prime Minister David Cameron says they could transfer this legal power to Holyrood, but SNP demands for the vote to be extended to 16- and 17-year-olds, as well as a devo-max option, which the SNP is open to, are stumbling blocks.

Ben Thomson, head of the think-tank Reform Scotland, said: “They’re more interested in the process, and until we can get away from this whole debate about what the process is, that is blocking us from looking at what is the best structure for Scotland going forward.”

He added: “The purpose of this debate is to try and get some voice for the Scottish people to say what is the structure that actually works best for Scotland and here is some of civic Scotland, rather than just politicians arguing about process and two questions or one referendum.”

Mr Thomson said the body wanted to explore the “middle ground”, because two thirds of Scots backed greater powers for Holyrood.

“We see the natural consensus and the common sense approach is how do you make Scotland work within the relationship of the rest of the UK,” he said.

Reform Scotland backs a “devo-plus” option, which would see Holyrood responsible for raising, through taxation, all the money it spends.

First Minister Alex Salmond has said the referendum ballot could also include the option of greatly-enhanced powers for Holyrood if there is “wide support” for this among civic Scotland. But Ms Elliot insisted that the coalition group was not affiliated to any one body.

“The political debate has been narrowed down so much that its practically impossible to move in this without being accused of belonging to one camp rather than the other, and being accused of political bias,” she added.

“That’s not our fault. We knew the kind of debate we were going to have and we’re going to have it, because otherwise would be to silence civil society at a time which is crucial for Scotland’s future.”

Scottish Trades Union Congress assistant secretary Dave Moxham said the organisation was “nowhere near taking a final view”.