YES vote ‘no guarantee’ of independence
INDEPENDENCE will “not automatically” follow a Yes vote in September’s referendum, according to a Labour peer and expert on the constitution.
A LABOUR peer has claimed a Yes vote in the referendum will not guarantee Scottish independence.
Baroness Jay, chair of the Lords Constitution Committee and daughter of former PM Jim Callaghan, said the status quo could continue even in the event of a vote to leave the UK.
Baroness Jay echoed claims of a senior Coalition source last week that the status quo could continue despite a vote to leave the UK.
Campaigners for the Yes side say it’s “panic stations” for the No campaign in the face of narrowing polls.
Baroness Jay chairs the House of Lords constitution committee taking evidence for an inquiry into the implications of aYes vote.
She said: “Just because Scotland voted for independence, it wouldn’t automatically happen.”
She has warned that a series of constitutional wrangles could delay Alex Salmond’s longed for independence day in March 2016.
Her intervention came on the same day Alex Salmond wrote to David Cameron urging him to distance himself from similar “antidemocratic” comments reportedly made by a coalition colleague.
An expert witness, appearing before the House of Lords committee Baroness Jay chairs, claimed Westminster could seek to derail the process completely.
Another suggested Alex Salmond only picked the date for independence day so he could be the first First Minister of an independent Scotland.
And they warned negotiations would be stalled by a change of Westminster administration following the 2015 general election.
Oxford University constitution expert Professor Iain McLean warned that should Scotland vote to separate Westminster may ignore the Edinburgh Agreement that commits them to constructive negotiations and simply say no to everything.
Baroness Jay said: “In the build up to the vote these issues can seem dry as dust but they would make quite a difference.
“What would be the position of the monarchy? What happens to the Supreme Court? What would be the state of MPs after September, after the general election?”
Baroness Jay is the daughter of former Labour PM Jim Callaghan.
Blair Jenkins, of Yes Scotland, said: “This is another sign of the Westminster establishment showing their true colours.
“Here we have an unelected Labour peer echoing the threats of her Tory partners in the No camp by trying to bully the voters and say they might not respect the result.”
‘Scots MPs would be in limbo for five years’— full interview with Baroness Jay on P20.