Thread: London Try's To Control Scottish Independence Vote

Labour and Tory peers bid to remove control of referendum from Scotland General

Sunday, 18 September 2011 05:19
159 Comments
By G.A.Ponsonby

A bid to strip Holyrood of the power over the holding of an independence referendum has been added to the Scotland Bill by former Tory Minister Michael Forsyth and ex Labour MSP George Foulkes, both now Lords.

Amendments inserted by both men would see control over the referendum passed to Westminster with London having the power to determine the date of the ballot as well as the wording of the question itself.

The Bill, currently going through the House of Lords, is the UK coalition government’s implementation of recommendations made by the Calman Commission. The Bill seeks to make changes to the finances of the Scottish Parliament, including a new Scottish rate of income tax and also contains a number of adjustments to devolved responsibilities.

However a controversial amendment inserted by former Conservative Minister Michael Forsyth, now Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, would remove the power to hold an independence referendum from the Scottish parliament.

Instead, the Tory peer wants that power to be reserved to Westminster alone and a further amendment would give London control over the wording of the ballot paper question and the date.

The new clause inserted by Lord Forsyth states:

(1) The holding of a referendum on whether Scotland should become independent from the rest of the United Kingdom is outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament (see subsection (6)).

(2) The Prime Minister may by order cause a referendum to be held throughout Scotland about whether Scotland should become independent of the rest of the United Kingdom.

(3) The order shall contain the question that is to appear on the ballot paper.

The new clause ends:

“The holding of a referendum on whether Scotland should become independent of the rest of the United Kingdom is a reserved matter.â€

They are playing with fire. Just let the Scotts decide for themselves. Take away their freedom and you are asking for trouble from them....