Scots will still get to vote in next year’s UK elections – even if a majority back independence.
Conservative MP John Stevenson failed with an attempt yesterday to bring in legislation to scrap all of Scotland’s constit-uencies for the 2015 Westminster general election if there is a “yes” vote in September’s referendum.
The Carlisle MP – who is originally from Aberdeen – claimed the measure was necessary to prevent Scottish MPs, who would be about to represent a foreign country, from influencing laws passed upon people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The changes would also be needed to prevent MPs north of the border affecting who became prime minister, Mr Stevenson added.
However, the move to change the law was defeated by 226 votes to 16.
Mr Stevenson, who is campaigning against Scottish independence, said: “I believe it would be unacceptable to this House and to the remaining parts of the United Kingdom for Scottish MPs to be returned to this parliament in 2015 after a yes vote.”
He added: “Why should the peoples of Northern Ireland, Wales and England have laws passed upon them in this House by MPs who will, for all intents and purposes, be about to be part of a foreign country with divergent interests and priorities?
“How can proper and fair negotiations be had between Westminster and the Scottish Government if there are still Scottish MPs having influence in Westminster?
“Unless the Scottish constituencies are removed, we will be left with the perverse situation whereby Scottish MPs, arguably representing the rest of the United Kingdom, are negotiating with the Scottish Government and parliament representing Scotland.”
Thomas Docherty, Labour MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, opposed the bill, posing a different set of questions.
“What happens to the spending decisions that would affect Scotland in those 10 months between the general election and the break-up of Britain?” he asked.
“Would the departments of the UK Government still make spending decisions on behalf of the Scots?
“What happens on issues such as defence and international relations? What happens in the dreadful event of this country being required to take military action? Would the brave men and women who served so proudly in the British armed forces be represented and have their voices heard?”
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