Westminster bids to flex muscles on independence poll

MPs are to hold an inquiry into the Scottish independence referendum amid growing anxiety in Westminster over the strategy of leaving the issue to the Scottish Government.

The Scottish affairs select committee yesterday discussed the terms of the inquiry, which will look at both the mechanics and legal problems surrounding a referendum and the issues that are set to be debated.

MPs on the committee have admitted to The Scotsman that one of the reasons for holding the inquiry is for the Westminster parliament to get a grip on the issue and to take the initiative away from the SNP, who many fear have been given a free run by the UK government and Labour.

It follows attempts in the Lords by Labour peer Lord Foulkes and former Tory Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth to push for the UK government to be forced to hold a referendum by 2013.

The UK government and Labour front-bench line is that the Scottish Government should be allowed to run a referendum.

However, it is understood that among the critics of this approach is Labour Scottish affairs committee chairman Ian Davidson.

One MP on the Scottish affairs committee said: “Legally speaking, constitutional matters are ones for this parliament [Westminster], not the Scottish Parliament.”

Another added: “We’re letting the SNP get away with murder at the moment and we need to have an input into what is being said and get involved in the debate.

“If the Scottish affairs select committee can’t do that down here, then who can?”

A third said: “We have a situation in Scotland where the recovery could be damaged by the uncertainty. Somebody needs to make some progress in looking at what might happen and how it could happen.”

However, the committee wants to present the inquiry as a means of producing clarity on issues about the legal problems surrounding the Scottish Government holding a referendum, as well as what would need to be done to allow one to go ahead.

It will also scrutinise the impact of having a multi-option referendum, preferred by SNP First Minister Alex Salmond, or a straight yes or no question on independence.

“We need to look at issues over the number of questions and whether this proposal to have a multi-option referendum is an attempt to blur the issue by the Nationalists,” an MP said.

The inquiry is also set to look at the issues that might come up including the currency, defence and foreign affairs and the possible scenarios in the event of a vote for independence.

One committee member told The Scotsman: “There is very little information out there on what people will be voting for in a referendum and the details on various issues.

“We hope this inquiry will provide clear options for people and what voting for or against independence will mean in terms of the currency, our defence policy and so forth.

“The problem is that the constitutional debate in Scotland has not focused on these issues and the Nationalists have been allowed to get away with not being forced to look at the detail of what independence would mean.

“When people go to vote we hope our work will provide them with some clarity on the issue.”

It is understood that Tory Scotland Office minister David Mundell is sympathetic to the idea of Westminster taking a more proactive role in the referendum, while Lib Dem Scottish Secretary Michael Moore is more sceptical.

The same divide is understood to exist on the Labour benches, with shadow Scottish secretary Ann McKechin believing Westminster involvement in a referendum would be detrimental to the unionist cause.

She and Labour peers had what were said to be angry exchanges last week when they refused to back down on efforts to introduce a referendum clause into the Scotland Bill.

Yesterday a spokesman for the Scotland Office said that they would be willing to assist the committee with its inquiry.

However, the attempt by MPs to take some control of the referendum was met with anger by the Scottish Government.

The SNP made it clear that it believes the Holyrood election in May that gave the party an overall majority means that Alex Salmond and his government has a mandate to run the referendum – not Westminster.

A spokesman for the First Minister said: “A referendum in Scotland is clearly a matter for the Scottish Parliament and Government – and the referendum that is happening is the one the SNP pledged in the election campaign.

“That is the platform the SNP stood on at the election, and which has been massively backed by the people of Scotland.”