SNP ‘could lose control’ of vote on independence

ONE of Scottish Labour’s leadership contenders has said he may back a controversial plan to take the forthcoming referendum on independence out of Alex Salmond’s control and hand it to Westminster.

Tom Harris, MP for Glasgow South, told a meeting of party members last week that if the SNP “rigs” the referendum “the ball will be in the UK government’s court”.

He added: “It would be ironic if the Tory-led administration of David Cameron were more capable than the SNP government of asking Scotland an honest question.”

Harris was speaking a week after Cameron told Salmond to “stop being such a big feartie”, saying when the right moment came for a referendum, he should get on and call it.

However, the First Minister has insisted he will not hold the vote until the back end of the new five-year parliament.

Harris, the only MP standing for the Scottish Labour leadership, said that the right to hold and organise a referendum should be Holyrood’s.

But he outlined four conditions which, he said, the SNP should accept if that right was to be upheld.

He said the question should be a straightforward “yes-no” option – leaving no room for a separate question to move to so-called Devo-Max. The SNP should tell people now the precise date of the referendum, he added. There should be no attempt to change the franchise to allow people under 18 to vote; and, he said, the Electoral Commission should be brought in to oversee it.

Harris said: “Provided all these criteria are honoured, it would be unjustifiable for the UK government to hold its own referendum. However, by refusing to honour any of these conditions, Alex Salmond will be indicating he intends to rig the referendum. If he insists on rigging the referendum, the ball will be in the UK government’s court.”

His comments come amid speculation that the UK coalition may opt to run the referendum. In an interview this summer, Cameron suggested he may be prepared to call a snap vote.

However, senior Scottish Liberal Democrats have questioned whether it would be feasible, fearing such a move risks a backlash.

Constitutionally, Westminster has the authority to hold a referendum, but all parties have so far accepted Holyrood should do so if possible.

However, last night a spokesman for Salmond said: “The prospect of Labour MPs at Westminster conniving with a Tory Prime Minister to interfere in the Scottish democratic process is as unedifying as it is damaging for Labour.

“Mr Harris doesn’t seem to understand the democratic reality in Scotland – the referendum is a matter for Holyrood to scrutinise and deliver, not Westminster.”