Watchdog must be given time to scrutinise new Scexit question
PLANS for a second Scexit referendum have been dealt a ‘crushing blow’ after the SNP was told the electoral watchdog would have to test the question put to voters.
In a unanimous report, MSPs said the Scottish Government’s Referendums Bill must be altered to allow more scrutiny before Nicola Sturgeon goes for another vote.
The findings of Holyrood’s SNP-led finance and constitutions committee come j ust weeks after Miss Sturgeon claimed opposition parties were trying to ‘rig the whole process’ of a Scexit vote by getting the Electoral Commission involved in question approval.
The committee concluded the Scottish Government must recognise the ‘weight of evidence’ it has received urging ministers to involve the commission in the independence process.
Scotland in Union chief executive Pamela Nash said: ‘This unanimous decision is very welcome and MSPs deserve credit for recognising how important it is that voters are confident in the fairness of referendums.
‘It’s a crushing blow for the SNP in its disgraceful attempts to rig any future referendum on leaving the UK.’
The Referendums (Scotland) Bill was published to create frameworks for all referendums in Scotland.
However, the immediate aim of SNP leader Miss Sturgeon is to use it to push ahead with plans for a fresh Scexit vote.
She has proposed using the same question from the 2014 referendum in a future vote, asking voters ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ with a Yes or No answer. There are some critics who believe this should be changed to a leave/ remain question.
SNP ministers have so far refused to allow the Electoral Commission to give a view.
The Bill says the watchdog would be consulted on referendum questions but allows an opt- out for those previously tested. Though giving its support to the l egislation, the f i nance committee calls f or numerous amendments and recommends the Scottish Government allows the watchdog to test any question on which the public are asked to vote.
The report said: ‘The committee recommends that the Cabinet Secretary [for Constitutional Relations Mike Russell] recognises the weight of evidence above in favour of the Electoral Commission testing a previously used referendum question and must come to an agreement, based on this evidence, with the Electoral Commission.’
The Bill is part of the Scottish Government’s preparation in the hope of another independence referendum being held in 2020 and would establish the legal framework and guidelines.
Allowing the commission ‘to establish the question is clear, transparent and neutral in its setting’ would give voters and campaigners confidence in the question, the committee argues. It said it should be given ten weeks to evaluate the question – even if previously tested.
The MSPs also recommended the Bill be amended so any campaign would be a minimum of ten weeks long and called for an unequivocal rejection of any thresholds in favour of a simple majority to decide the outcome.
Committee convener Bruce Crawford said: ‘We welcome the approach taken by the Cabinet Secretary in his oral evidence to our committee where he indicated that he is “open to alternative approaches to all aspects of the Bill” and how it can be improved. Our recommendations are intentionally framed to inform an open discussion on how the Bill can be improved based on t he s ubstantial evidence received.’
During the committee’s evidence gathering, the overwhelming majority of respondents supported the watchdog examining the referendum question.
Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: ‘We will oppose the SNP’s relentless pursuit of Indyref 2 every step of the way.
‘The evidence is overwhelming that Sturgeon’s unwanted and divisive obsession with referendums is a power grab.
‘The Nationalists want powers to set up referendums by order but MSPs have said no.
‘ MSPs have been equally damning of Sturgeon’s arrogant efforts to by-pass the Electoral
‘It’s a crushing blow for the SNP’ ‘Unwanted obsession’
Commission. Nicola Sturgeon has been stopped in her tracks.’
Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon wants to rush this Bill through and cut the Electoral Commission out of the loop because she is afraid of independent scrutiny.
‘Scottish Liberal Democrats are clear the last thing we need is a bitter and divisive independence referendum… we should be focusing on stopping Brexit and building a brighter future.’
Constitutional Relations Secretary Mr Russell said: ‘I welcome the committee’s thoughtful scrutiny and its unanimous support for the objectives of the Bill. I will seriously consider the report’s findings.
‘There is still a strong case, in my view, for not changing a question which has been previously proposed and tested by the Electoral Commission, remains in use and has the confidence of the public. However, I am open to constructive proposals.’
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