Below you will find the response I have sent to the UK Government's Scotland Office in answer to their public consultation exercise on Scotland's constitutional future.
The e-mail address is: reply@scotlandoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Feel free to cut and paste any parts of the below response.
I strongly encourage you to make a response, whether like me, you are a defender of the Union, or you wish to see Scottish independence. Get your voice heard.
In response to the consultation exercise conducted by the Scotland Office of the UK Government, I offer the following:
Date of Referendum
I believe that the referendum should be held at the earliest possible opportunity. Given that the referendum on the devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament was started by the UK Government, following the election of Labour in May 1997 and was concluded by September 1997 with the questions framed, organization and administration established and functioning and, the count made and declared. We have missed the opportunity to conduct the referendum alongside local elections in May but I believe this could be conducted and completed by end of October 2012. In order to promote the fullest possible participation, I suggest that the polling day be a national holiday in Scotland.
The Question
This can only require a simple Yes or No response. Nationalist parties in Scotland posit that there is such a clamour for independence for Scotland, from the United Kingdom and as such clarity is called for.
- Do you want the Scottish Parliament to enter into negotiations with the government of the United Kingdom, to lead to Scotland seceding from the United Kingdom and conclude an equitable distribution of assets and liabilities, to effect the same?
The Electorate
Use the same criteria as apply in all Local Authority, Scottish, General and European elections, within the UK and within Scotland. That is, those on the latest electoral register within Scottish constituencies. Explicitly, the franchise not to be extended to those not currently qualified nor to exclude any persons on the basis of their country of birth.
Authority and Administration
The authority to conduct any referendum on independence, clearly rest with the UK Parliament. It follows that this would also apply to the question to be asked and the 'terms and conditions', including the timing of such a referendum. As a consideration to the Scottish Parliament, I suggest that a short parliamentary bill be proposed and passed that devolves this power, for a single instance, to the Scottish parliament for the Referendum to be held under the administrative auspices of the Electoral Commission.
The Question and Devo-Max
As stated earlier, my view is that the position to be put before the electorate of Scotland should be a simple Yes or No question. The issues surrounding so called 'Devo-Max', which include a suggestion to significantly increase the powers of the Scottish Parliament, create an impact on the whole of the United Kingdom and as such, can only be addressed through the forum of the UK-wide electorate.
I submit the foregoing on the basis that my views are not confidential and should the Scotland Office wish to publish them, then they are free to do so.
