Government paves way for Scottish independence poll

Proposals to pave the way for a referendum on independence for Scotland have been published by the UK Government.

A draft order drawn up in Westminster would temporarily extend the powers of the Scottish Parliament to allow it to call a referendum on the single question of whether or not Scotland should remain part of the United Kingdom.

Legal advice received by the UK Government suggests that any attempt by the Scottish Government to mount a referendum on the basis of an act passed at Holyrood would be unlawful and would be struck down by the courts.

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A consultation paper published by Scotland Secretary Michael Moore proposes a “Section 30 order” to give Holyrood the power to deliver a referendum. The order would have to be approved by both Houses at Westminster and by the Scottish Parliament.

Officials said this method would allow a referendum to be staged within 12-18 months if all parties co-operate, but the question of whether a legal deadline will not be decided until after the consultation concludes on March 9.

Ministers said they want any poll to be held “sooner rather than later”, to reduce uncertainty, which they claim is damaging the Scottish economy.

In a foreword, Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg made clear that they do not want the break-up of the Union.

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Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg acknowledged that the Scottish National Party fought and won last year’s Scottish Parliament election on a manifesto promising an independence referendum by the end of the current term in 2016.

Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg wrote: “They have campaigned consistently for independence and while the UK Government does not believe that this is in the interests of Scotland or of the rest of the United Kingdom, we will not stand in the way of a referendum on independence.”

They added: “Ending Scotland’s place within the United Kingdom is not the policy of the UK Government but we owe it to everyone in Scotland to ensure that the referendum is delivered in a legal, fair and decisive way.”