It will cost the Scottish Government £12 million to carry out their independence referendum - money it can ill afford in the present economic circumstances.
As anticipated, the Scottish Government used St Andrew’s Day to publish its White Paper, spelling out options aimed at achieving the Scottish National Party’s goal of a referendum on Scotland becoming a fully-fledged independent nation.
The 198-page document considers four separate options to be put to the Scottish people in a vote this time next year:
• No change at all to the existing devolution settlement;
• Further powers for Scotland, based in large part on the recommendations of the Calman Commission;
• So-called “devolution max” which would see Scotland gain full fiscal autonomy, with Westminster responsible for Foreign Affairs and Defence issues;
• Full-scale independence, with Scotland a member of the EU, but retaining the Queen as head of state.
Publishing the document, First Minister Alex Salmond said:
“This White Paper charts the route to progress for Scotland – and we are calling on people of all parties and none who want real substantive additions to the powers of the Parliament to rally to the referendum campaign.
“That is why we are open to including the option of such powers on the referendum ballot paper, alongside independence. It is time for the people to have their say on Scotland’s future.”
Despite such rhetoric, however, Mr Salmond’s referendum proposals have been met with near-universal condemnation from Scotland’s main opposition parties.
Labour’s Leader at Holyrood Iain Gray dubbed the White Paper a “multimillion-pound white elephant”, going on to say:
“We should not be distracting ourselves with a referendum, with a question which we don’t even know what it is, with options we don’t even know what they are.
“It could cost anything up to £12m – that’s public resources which could be put to far better use protecting and creating jobs here in Scotland and I think that’s what Scots want us to be doing.”
And the leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party Annabel Goldie branded the plans “a complete waste of money”, whilst for the Liberal Democrats, Tavish Scott concluded that the SNP were “trying to impose independence on Scotland when it is neither what Scotland wants nor needs”.
Given the extent of opposition, the SNP leader looks like he will have to answer several fundamental questions about his plans.
Recent days have seen news that the number of teachers across Scotland is falling and warnings that Scotland’s economy is trailing that of the UK. Given such serious and important issues, people are bound to wonder whether the estimated £12 million it will cost to hold an independence referendum is a wise use of public funds.
The BBC explains the reality the Scottish Government will face when they bring a bill forward – they simply do not have the votes to get such legislation through. Together with polls that make clear that show a majority of Scots neither favour independence nor see a referendum as a priority, it leaves many puzzled by Mr Salmond’s decision to continue to persist with his plans.
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
7 Responses to “Money spent on independence referendum “could be put to better use””
Roger
Ed,
You are being deliberately disingenuous.
The SNP is a minority govt because Holyrood has a PR system.
If the UK had the same PR system (and I think it should have) Labour would be a minority govt at Westminster.
The SNPs constituency vote in 2007 was just under 33%, Labour’s UK vote in 2005 was just over 35%.
In both cases the convention is that the party that wins most seats has ‘won’ the election and is given the opportunity to form a govt and try and implement its manifesto.
If the SNP were in fact going to insist on a independence or status quo only referendum then I would agree with you that it would be a useless waste of money and that Labour and the LDs should vote it down.
If however they are willing to offer up Calman and Devo Max options it seems entirely proper that MSPs should vote on the proposals based on their actual merits and not for the sort of short-term partisan advantage that you seem to be advocating.
Salmond has been playing this game for a very long time and I am pretty sure that if Labour and the LDs are stupid enough to give him an election on this issue he and not they will end up in the stronger position after it.
Shamik Das
Gentlemen, set aside an hour of your time and watch this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00p304w/A_History_of_Scotland_Series_2_Lets_Pretend/
A must-see programme for all with an interest in Scottish politics.