UK GOVT REFERENDUM DATE BREAKS THE LAW

 

UK GOVT REFERENDUM DATE BREAKS THE LAW

 

Commenting on the report in the Scotsman today which reveals that the Interim Electoral Management Board has warned the Tory/LibDem government that it will have to change the law if they want to hold an AV referendum on the same day as the Scottish Parliament elections SNP MSP Dr Alasdair Allan said:

 

“The London Tory/LibDem government bounced this referendum on Scotland without a word of consultation, and no thought as to the consequences.  

 

“This revelation shows that they failed to look into whether holding a referendum on the same day was within the rules. Therefore this effectively is breaching the law.

 

“They have to think again, because either holding the two votes on the same day would carry double the bureaucracy and costs – the opposite of what Michael Moore says.

 

“Nor should Westminster would force through a combined poll by unilaterally changing a piece of Scottish Parliament legislation, against the wishes of three-quarters of MSPs.

 

“This revelation shows that their position on the AV referendum date is not tenable, and cannot stand.”