Scottish politicians have reacted angrily to a decision to hold a referendum on changing Westminster’s voting system on the same day as the Holyrood elections.
Labour said holding the Alternative Voting (AV) poll on May 5 threatened to confuse voters and shift attention away from the business of electing a new government for Scotland.
A spokesman for the current Scottish Government said the move by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition in London was “entirely unacceptable”.
SNP Holyrood election campaign director Angus Robertson, MP for Moray, said the decision was a disgrace.
The referendum seeks to determine whether the first-past-the-post Westminster voting system should be replaced with the alternative vote.
It allows electors to rank candidates in order of preference, similar to the system in place to elect regional list MSPs.
Legislation authorising an AV referendum received royal assent late on Wednesday after a stand-off over the issue in the Lords.
A Labour amendment urging MPs to think again on the issue was defeated on a 221-153 vote.
The Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, last night said that it was confident that holding two elections on the same day would be a success.
Chairwoman Jenny Watson said she and her colleagues “are ready to deliver successful elections and a referendum”.
She added: “We will continue to work with the hundreds of local counting officers across the UK, making sure that they have the plans in place to ensure voters have the best possible experience at the elections.
Aberdeen Central Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald described the referendum as a “side show”.
He said: “Having the AV vote on the same day will confuse people and distract them from what is a critical Scottish Parliament election against a backdrop of severe budget cuts.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The interim electoral management board has made it abundantly clear that there will be major challenges to delivering a combined poll.
“In the event that both are held on the same day, it is right that votes cast in the Scottish parliamentary election are counted before those cast in the referendum.”
Labour leader Iain Gray said the Holyrood vote must be the priority and the results should be announced first.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats and north-east Conservative MSP Alex Johnston said they fully supported the UK Government’s decision.
A Lib Dem spokeswoman said: “People are more than capable of distinguishing between a vote on who they want to represent them in Holyrood and a vote on whether the UK electoral system should be changed.” Echoing the remarks, Mr Johnstone said that holding the two elections on the same day would cut costs and be more efficient.
Highland Tory MSP Mary Scanlon said holding two elections on the same day would save the public purse £17million.