CALLS have been made for the parliamentary order empowering Holyrood to hold the 2014 independence referendum to be delayed until after the SNP Govermnment publishes its Referendum Bill amid concerns the SNP might seek to "rig" the question on the ballot paper.
Lord Forsyth, the former Conservative Scottish Secretary, told The Herald it would be a "constitutional courtesy" for the First Minister to publish the Referendum Bill, including the proposed question, soon so that Westminster politicians would have clarity and could hold an informed debate on the so-called Section 30 Order, which is due to be published on Monday.
He said there was a worry among peers at Westminister that the referendum would be "more rigged than the Cutty Sark".
Labour's Lord Foulkes, the ex-Scotland Office Minister, said it was possible worried members of the Lords could vote down the Section 30 Order but he stressed this was unlikely.
An opposition source made clear that the Lords would not block the Section 30 Order, knowing that any bid to disrupt the referendum process would only give a political advantage to the Nationalists.
The Section 30 Order has to be passed by Westminster, Holyrood and by the Privy Council, which is expected to meet in December.
The SNP Government is not expected to publish its Referendum Bill until next spring.
Lord Stephen, the Liberal Democrat peer, said there was "some considerable concern" about what question would be used.
"The question that is currently supported by Alex Salmond and the SNP (Do you agree Scotland should be an independent country?) when tested by opinion poll generally gets a significant – some would say up to 7% – advantage compared to a more neutral question," he said.
"Would the UK Government ensure that the Electoral Commission plays a full and active role, ensuring the referendum is not rigged or manipulated by the SNP, and that all aspects of running the referendum are handled in a fair and transparent way?"
Lord Strathclyde, the Leader of the Lords, said he agreed and insisted the commission had a "mandate" to do just that.
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