DEPUTY First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not "give away" the Scottish Parliament's right to ignore Electoral Commission advice on rules governing the independence referendum.
The minister in charge of the SNP's independence drive repeated her warning that the Government may overrule the politically impartial watchdog on key issues, including the wording of the question and campaign spending limits.
She told Holyrood's Referendum Bill Committee she did not "expect" to disagree with Commission recommendations but stressed: "They are not the decision-makers."
She added: "I am not going to sit here and attempt to give away the proper role of Government and Parliament in this process."
Pro-UK parties have warned that any attempt by the Government and SNP-dominated Parliament to bypass the Commission's advice would undermine the result of the referendum.
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