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Michael Moore to state referendum options Michael Moore to state referendum options
(about 9 hours later)
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore is to make a statement to the Commons on the legal status of a referendum on Scottish independence.Scottish Secretary Michael Moore is to make a statement to the Commons on the legal status of a referendum on Scottish independence.
Mr Moore is expected to say the power to change Scotland's constitutional settlement rests with Westminster.Mr Moore is expected to say the power to change Scotland's constitutional settlement rests with Westminster.
He will say that a vote organised by the Scottish government would be purely advisory and open to legal challenge. He will add that a vote organised by the Scottish government would be purely advisory and open to legal challenge.
It is thought Mr Moore will outline the conditions under which he would offer to transfer the power to Holyrood.It is thought Mr Moore will outline the conditions under which he would offer to transfer the power to Holyrood.
The Scottish National Party (SNP), which won an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament election's last May, has pledged to hold a referendum on independence in the second half of its five-year term.The Scottish National Party (SNP), which won an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament election's last May, has pledged to hold a referendum on independence in the second half of its five-year term.
The Tory-Lib Dem coalition government at Westminster said that under the terms of the 1998 Scotland Act, which set up the devolved administration, the Scottish government could hold a referendum but the result would only have advisory status.The Tory-Lib Dem coalition government at Westminster said that under the terms of the 1998 Scotland Act, which set up the devolved administration, the Scottish government could hold a referendum but the result would only have advisory status.
Mr Moore, the Lib Dem MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said he wanted the SNP government to hold a vote which was "fair, decisive and clear".Mr Moore, the Lib Dem MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said he wanted the SNP government to hold a vote which was "fair, decisive and clear".
He wants a Yes/No vote on independence and not one which involves a second question on greater powers for the Scottish Parliament. He has backed a Yes/No vote on independence and not one which involved a second question on greater powers for the Scottish Parliament.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said: "UK ministers fear that two votes risks creating confusion. Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and a Scottish Lib Dem MP, said the government was bringing forward proposals now in order to avoid years of legal wrangling between Holyrood and Westminster.
"They also argue that giving the Scottish Parliament greater powers over tax and spend, without full independence, would have knock-on consequences for the rest of the UK and so cannot be a matter for the Scottish people alone to decide on." He explained: "What we are trying to do today is set out a proposal to allow Scotland to have what the SNP promised, which was a referendum on independence which was fair, legal and decisive and the timing issue is clearly an important issue."
Mr Alexander believed it was important to have a debate about timing which involved "other people in Scotland" besides the Scottish government.
He added that there were real dangers to delaying a referendum to potentially 2016.
Mr Alexander said: "There are dangers in terms of investment, in terms of jobs and growth. We are already seeing publicly and privately business organisations, business groups saying they are concerned about the length of time this is taking.
"I hope that by opening up a debate on timing we will see a whole range of voices in Scotland talking about this, because of course the constitutional position in Scotland historically has never been the preserve of just one political party."
It is thought Mr Moore's statement will talk of a temporary transfer of power to the Scottish Parliament but it will not impose any 18-month time limit, which had previously been mooted.It is thought Mr Moore's statement will talk of a temporary transfer of power to the Scottish Parliament but it will not impose any 18-month time limit, which had previously been mooted.
However, the three Unionist parties - Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour - all argue that a vote should come sooner rather than later.However, the three Unionist parties - Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour - all argue that a vote should come sooner rather than later.
The UK government is also opposed to SNP proposals to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the referendum.The UK government is also opposed to SNP proposals to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the referendum.
And it will insist on the Electoral Commission playing a role in the running of the vote.And it will insist on the Electoral Commission playing a role in the running of the vote.
On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron said he was not trying to "dictate" the terms of a Scottish independence referendum.On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron said he was not trying to "dictate" the terms of a Scottish independence referendum.
Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Cameron of "a blatant attempt to interfere" in a decision that should be for the Scottish government and Scottish people.Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Cameron of "a blatant attempt to interfere" in a decision that should be for the Scottish government and Scottish people.
The Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran said the electorate had made it clear it wanted the referendum debate.
The Labour MP told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The reality is now upon us. Scotland is going to have a referendum and we need to get in and talk about the substance of that, we need to talk about Scotland's future.
"My party's point is that we need to get this referendum out of the way.
"There are clear tests that need to be met by both the UK government and by the Scottish government. We need to have a clear and unambiguous debate.
"I don't think that for a second we should scare and frighten people about the future of Scotland at all. I think it will be a very exciting debate, a very invigorating debate."