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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Scottish referendum: Tory warning over electoral roll | Scottish referendum: Tory warning over electoral roll |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Almost a million Scots could be denied an independence referendum vote if the SNP refuses the proper powers to run it, the Conservative Party has claimed. | Almost a million Scots could be denied an independence referendum vote if the SNP refuses the proper powers to run it, the Conservative Party has claimed. |
| The Tories said the SNP would be unable to access the full electoral roll of four million voters, if it held a referendum on its own terms. | The Tories said the SNP would be unable to access the full electoral roll of four million voters, if it held a referendum on its own terms. |
| But the Scottish government dismissed the claims as "simply nonsense". | But the Scottish government dismissed the claims as "simply nonsense". |
| Westminster MPs have said new powers must be devolved to Scotland so the result cannot be legally challenged. | Westminster MPs have said new powers must be devolved to Scotland so the result cannot be legally challenged. |
| The Conservatives are the majority party in the UK's coalition government, which is also made up of Liberal Democrat MPs. | The Conservatives are the majority party in the UK's coalition government, which is also made up of Liberal Democrat MPs. |
| Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has asked First Minister Alex Salmond to meet him in Edinburgh this week to resolve "real legal problems" with the referendum. | |
| Ministers at Westminster have also previously said they want to work with the Scottish government to ensure it has the proper powers to hold the referendum - planned for autumn 2014 - because constitutional issues are not devolved to Holyrood. | Ministers at Westminster have also previously said they want to work with the Scottish government to ensure it has the proper powers to hold the referendum - planned for autumn 2014 - because constitutional issues are not devolved to Holyrood. |
| But the move has provoked a row with SNP ministers, who said the coalition was trying to attach strings to the referendum, such as dictating the precise date and what will appear on the ballot paper. | But the move has provoked a row with SNP ministers, who said the coalition was trying to attach strings to the referendum, such as dictating the precise date and what will appear on the ballot paper. |
| The Conservatives now say that, if the Scottish government went ahead on the issue itself, it would only have access to the publicly available, edited electoral register - mainly used by direct marketing companies - on which voters can opt out of being included. | The Conservatives now say that, if the Scottish government went ahead on the issue itself, it would only have access to the publicly available, edited electoral register - mainly used by direct marketing companies - on which voters can opt out of being included. |
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| Scotland Office Minister David Mundell said: "The UK government has set out very clearly that the Scottish government cannot legislate lawfully for a referendum with its current powers. | Scotland Office Minister David Mundell said: "The UK government has set out very clearly that the Scottish government cannot legislate lawfully for a referendum with its current powers. |
| "The full electoral register can only be used for specific purposes such as the general or Holyrood elections. | "The full electoral register can only be used for specific purposes such as the general or Holyrood elections. |
| "The legal position is clear - if the SNP attempts to go ahead with its own referendum then it will be nothing more than an opinion poll, with a million Scots unable to be asked for their view." | "The legal position is clear - if the SNP attempts to go ahead with its own referendum then it will be nothing more than an opinion poll, with a million Scots unable to be asked for their view." |
| A Scottish government spokesman said the referendum would be brought about through legislation at Holyrood, which would ensure full access to the electoral register. | A Scottish government spokesman said the referendum would be brought about through legislation at Holyrood, which would ensure full access to the electoral register. |
| "The Scottish government is entirely confident of its position, and of the overwhelming mandate it has received from the people of Scotland to hold a referendum," said the spokesman. | "The Scottish government is entirely confident of its position, and of the overwhelming mandate it has received from the people of Scotland to hold a referendum," said the spokesman. |
| "In any event, the claim that the full electoral register will not be used for the referendum is simply nonsense." | "In any event, the claim that the full electoral register will not be used for the referendum is simply nonsense." |
| The Tories said that, based on figures from the General Register Office for Scotland almost 27% of the 3.9 million voters on the electoral register had opted out of the edited version. | The Tories said that, based on figures from the General Register Office for Scotland almost 27% of the 3.9 million voters on the electoral register had opted out of the edited version. |
| Mr Salmond, who is committed to holding the independence referendum in autumn 2014, said he was happy to meet Mr Moore, but said Prime Minister David Cameron, who was leading Westminster's policy on the issue, appeared to be "un-keen on having a face-to-face meeting". | |
| Mr Cameron has said he favours a referendum "as soon as possible" - earlier than 2014. | |
| Westminster is also believed to favour a single question, yes or no to independence, rather than including a third option - so called "devolution max" - for greater powers to Scotland. | |
| 'Downsides immense' | |
| Mr Moore said of the offer for a meeting: "We want this referendum made in Scotland and we should start the work this week in the nation's capital. | |
| "There are real legal problems that need solved and I hope we all share the desire to have a legal, fair and decisive referendum." | |
| Bruce Crawford, the minister responsible for Scottish government strategy, said his colleagues were happy to meet with the Scottish secretary. | |
| But he said: "He is not a member of the Westminster 'Quad' of David Cameron, George Osborne, Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander, who are leading Westminster's policy in relation to Scotland's referendum - therefore it is clearly necessary that we also meet with the prime minister, who is deciding Downing Street's policy." | |
| Mr Crawford accused Mr Cameron of trying to "bounce an early referendum on Scotland and impose terms". | |
| "The prime minister appears uncomfortable and disinclined even to discuss the issue with the first minister - having provoked the row in the first place," he added. | |
| Speaking before Mr Moore revealed his invitation, Mr Salmond said he had tried to meet the PM "about six times since we last met in July and each time Downing Street has been un-keen on having a face to face meeting to discuss these issues". | |
| Elsewhere, former chancellor Alistair Darling has said he is not interested in heading up the pro-Union campaign, despite earlier speculation. | |
| But the Edinburgh South West MP warned Scotland would raise economic difficulties if it voted for independence. | |
| "The downsides are immense, the risks are amazing, the uncertainties I just don't think are worth gambling on," he told The Observer. | |
| "There are times when you should gamble and there are times when you shouldn't." |