50,000 Scots living in Wales could vote in Scottish referendum in Tory bid to stop result for Sturgeon
Conservatives want to give 50,000 Scots who live in Wales a vote in any upcoming Scottish independence referendum in a bid to swing the result in their favour.
According to the Times newspaper, one of the plans to stop Scotland voting for political freedom from Westminster will be to open up the referendum to Scottish people living all over the UK.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised a referendum before the end of 2023 and current polls show the result hovering around the 50% mark. However, allowing Scots who live elsewhere in the UK to vote would likely swing the result towards a ‘No’.
Conservatives also planned to make Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Conservative leader who is due to enter the House of Lords later this year, to head up No 10’s ‘Union Unit’ to campaign for the United Kingdom.
“We know Sturgeon will start trying to force another referendum as soon as she thinks it is politically tenable again, so there are things we can and should do now to be ready for her,” a cabinet source told the Times.
“One thing is to open up eligibility of the vote to all Scots in the UK, not just those living in Scotland. The other is to bring Ruth back into the front line. She is the best pro-Union voice we have.”
It is not known on what grounds the Electoral Commission would be able to gauge the Scottishness of individuals living across the UK.
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“It is not known on what grounds the Electoral Commission would be able to gauge the Scottishness of individuals living across the UK.” Well put. Will it be one Scottish parent or grandparent? (and how to validate them in turn?) Period of residence in Scotland for how many years before moving to current residence? What kind of proof is accepted for these claims? Bureaucracy, with admin expense necessary, and this will take time, months. Good luck with that.
Now if they’d wanted to assess the Britishness of people living elsewhere in the EU for that Referendum, they could just have asked the Passport Office
Big problem especially with the current fashion for self identification. If a man can say “I’m a woman” then surely he can say “I’m Scottish”. And gets to wear a kilt too !
An interesting idea. In the space of two minutes I managed to remember 10 friends, relatives or neighbours who have a Scottish parent. From what they’ve said in the past I wouldn’t bank on a majority being opposed to independence!
They could show their birth certificate to demonstrate proof of birth in Scotland; that should be enough.
However, I don’t remember the Tories pressing to allow Welsh expats living elsewhere in the UK to be allowed to vote in either of the devolution referenda. Anyway, what’s the basis of their belief that Scottish expats will vote No?
Smacks of total desperation Boris!
Ond, gwyddom pwy fydd y targed nesa’!
Why are they so confident that Scots living in Wales would vote against Scottish independence?
That’s just attention-grabbing headlining. The body says all Scots across the UK. Though your question still pertains…
What’s wrong with Scots having a say in the future of Scotland? Did they stop being Scottish when they moved to Wales? Don’t tell the tens of thousands of Welsh who live outside Wales that they stopped being Welsh when they crossed Offa’s Dyke!
Nothing wrong with it, regardless of where they live. But in that case, all Scots around the globe should be allowed to vote. While we’re at it, let’s revise brexit too with votes from all British citizens living outside Britain.
It’s the double standard favouring a particular outcome that offends.
Does this mean that Irish people living in England, Wales and Scotland should get the right to vote on the future of Northern Ireland?
A real can of worms. If it is a Scottish issue does that mean that Welsh, Irish and English people living in Scotland don’t get a vote?
The Tories are using all these rather dubious, underhanded methods because there are NO Union benefits to show us.
This is missing the whole point. I’m English, have lived in Scotland for 45 years and will vote Yes for Independence. I don’t want to be told I can’t vote because I wasn’t born here. (Not that’s being suggested, but it would fit the logic)
Independence is for the residents to decide.
If there were ever a referendum on an English matter, I wouldn’t expect to vote in it.