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Michael Moore to state referendum options Michael Moore to state referendum options
(about 1 hour 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 add 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. Meanwhile, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond is finalising his party's referendum document.
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) leader said his Cabinet would be putting the "finishing touches" to the consultation paper which will be published later this month and be open to public consultation.
In the Commons, it is thought Mr Moore will outline the conditions under which he would offer to transfer the power to Holyrood.
The 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 has backed a Yes/No vote on independence and not one which involved 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.
Mr Salmond accused the UK government of being in a "state of total confusion".
He said: "The issue is not Section 30 of the Scotland Act. The issue is the entirely unacceptable Tory attempt to impose London strings on Scotland's referendum, from a Westminster government with absolutely no mandate for these matters.
"In stark contrast to Westminster's disarray, the Scottish government will continue with the orderly process of bringing forward the referendum in the second half of this parliament."
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.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.
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."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.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.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.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.""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 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.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."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."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.""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."
Scotland's Tory leader Ruth Davidson said she wanted to see the UK and Scottish governments working together.Scotland's Tory leader Ruth Davidson said she wanted to see the UK and Scottish governments working together.
In an interview with the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said: "What the government in Westminster has said is, there is a way in which we can have a referendum that is legal, we have had the legal advice on this, we have to empower you to be able to hold it, that is what we want to do.In an interview with the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said: "What the government in Westminster has said is, there is a way in which we can have a referendum that is legal, we have had the legal advice on this, we have to empower you to be able to hold it, that is what we want to do.
"Then suddenly the SNP has thrown up its hands and said, this is an outrage. What we need is for both governments to work together, that is what Scots want.""Then suddenly the SNP has thrown up its hands and said, this is an outrage. What we need is for both governments to work together, that is what Scots want."