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Scottish Government urged to follow Electoral Commission’s advice on independence question

Scottish Government urged to follow Electoral Commission’s advice on independence question

The Scottish Government must accept all the recommendations made by the elections watchdog so the independence referendum is a “fair and proper” vote, Labour has said.

Patricia Ferguson made the plea the day before the Electoral Commission publishes its assessment of the Scottish Government’s preferred question for the referendum: Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?

It will also give its assessment of the proposed campaign spending limits.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs that the assessments will carry “considerable weight” with ministers but that the Scottish Parliament has the final say on such matters.

“As with referendums held under UK legislation, it is for the Government to propose the referendum question, the Electoral Commission to test the question and the Parliament to make a final decision,” Ms Sturgeon said.

“The Scottish Government will consider the wording of the question and indeed other matters relating to the conduct of the referendum in light of the commission’s advice and, of course, the Scottish Parliament will have the final say during its scrutiny of the referendum legislation.”