Trade Unions urge referee for referendum

SCOTLAND’S trade unions have urged the SNP to set up an independent body to referee the independence referendum, saying there were “serious doubts” over whether it would be managed fairly if left to politicians.

In a letter to all the major parties, the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said MSPs should choose a select body of respected public figures to decide on key issues such as the date, wording and franchise of the referendum.

On another area of contention – whether to have a second question asking Scots if they wanted to remain in the UK but with fiscal autonomy – the STUC said at present there was no “defined scheme, established from a credible source, that would justify consideration in the referendum”.

However, it argued that a commission could decide on such matters should such a scheme be prepared in the coming months.

The STUC proposal was welcomed by the SNP government, but Mr Salmond’s advisers were keen to stress such matters would be examined in a consultation document ministers intend to publish the week after next.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “We will soon set out our proposals and people will see that they are fair and reasonable.”