SNP must appoint Electoral Commission to oversee referendum for fair and legitimate vote

In this morning's debate and in First Minister's Questions, Ruth Davidson put pressure on Alex Salmond to use the independent Electoral Commission to oversee the referendum on independence.

Despite the First Minister's senior special advisor telling journalists that the body was politicised, Alex Salmond backed the commission, raising further questions as to why he is hesitant to use them for the referendum.

Ruth Davidson said:

"Today Alex Salmond backed the Electoral Commission and the work they carry out. They are an experienced organisation with integrity and impartiality and are the obvious choice to oversee the upcoming referendum on separation from the UK.

"Despite this, the SNP want to hand-pick their own team to oversee the referendum. Alex Salmond might like to think he's the team captain but that doesn't mean he gets to choose the referee too.

"The SNP voted to set up the Electoral Commission and even passed an Act to extend its role in Scotland. They were delighted when their former MP, MSP and former Presiding Officer, George Reid, was appointed a Commissioner. So it is remarkable that they don't support the Commission to oversee the referendum.

"This is a blatant attempt by the SNP to manipulate the vote to their own advantage, and calls into question whether they really want a fair, legitimate and clean referendum. The Scottish people deserve far more than this naked self-interest.

Electoral Commission and Local Government

The powers of the Electoral Commission were extended to Scottish local government elections in the Electoral Administration (Scotland) Act 2011. This was a Scottish Government Bill, fully backed by the SNP and which implemented some of the recommendations of the Gould Report (2007). The Bill was passed unanimously.

Stewart Stevenson MSP said in stage 3 of the Bill on 16 March 2011 -

"It is certainly important that the Electoral Commission should report on how elections have gone. An illustration of when a report by the Electoral Commission might have been useful is the referendum that was held on 1 March 1979."

Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, speaking in the same debate said —

"The provisions [relating to the Electoral Commission] will ensure there is consistent oversight and reporting on the administration of all general elections in Scotland"

The UK Electoral Commission was established by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and set up in 2001.

At the time, Alex Salmond was MP for Banff and Buchan.

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill

The third reading was approved without dissent on March 14th 2000 http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/2000/mar/14/repeals (see bottom of page)

This followed earlier discussion of amendments to the Bill, at which Alistair Morgan MP was in the Chamber at the time. http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/2000/mar/14/orders-regulating-conduct-of-referendums

An overall summary of the day's business in relation to the Bill is here: http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/sittings/2000/mar/14#commons

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