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| Scottish independence: Lords backs Scots MPs' isolation | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| MPs for Scottish seats should not be allowed to negotiate for the rest of the UK on the terms of independence if there is a "Yes" vote in the referendum, according to a report. | MPs for Scottish seats should not be allowed to negotiate for the rest of the UK on the terms of independence if there is a "Yes" vote in the referendum, according to a report. |
| The recommendation was made by the House of Lords Constitution Committee. | The recommendation was made by the House of Lords Constitution Committee. |
| Peers said MPs for Scottish constituencies should retain their seats until the day of independence. | Peers said MPs for Scottish constituencies should retain their seats until the day of independence. |
| But it said their first duty would be to their constituents in Scotland rather than the rest of the UK. | But it said their first duty would be to their constituents in Scotland rather than the rest of the UK. |
| This would prevent MPs who represent Scottish seats negotiating for the rest of the UK on the terms of independence, scrutinising the UK's negotiating team or ratifying a resulting agreement, the committee argued. | This would prevent MPs who represent Scottish seats negotiating for the rest of the UK on the terms of independence, scrutinising the UK's negotiating team or ratifying a resulting agreement, the committee argued. |
| Those affected would include politicians such as Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, as well as Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael, former Chancellor Alistair Darling and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. | Those affected would include politicians such as Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, as well as Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael, former Chancellor Alistair Darling and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. |
| Senior Tories urged Prime Minister David Cameron in March to block Scots from voting in the 2015 general election. | Senior Tories urged Prime Minister David Cameron in March to block Scots from voting in the 2015 general election. |
| The peers' conclusion is in line with the Scottish government's White Paper on independence, which argues people must be represented politically at UK level until the day of independence. | The peers' conclusion is in line with the Scottish government's White Paper on independence, which argues people must be represented politically at UK level until the day of independence. |
| The committee also said that the wider status of MPs for Scottish constituencies, in terms of their ability to take part in other Commons proceedings not relevant to Scotland, would have to be decided before the 2015 general election if there were a "Yes" vote in the referendum on 18 September. | The committee also said that the wider status of MPs for Scottish constituencies, in terms of their ability to take part in other Commons proceedings not relevant to Scotland, would have to be decided before the 2015 general election if there were a "Yes" vote in the referendum on 18 September. |
| The committee concluded that in the event of Scottish independence the remainder of the UK would be the "continuator" state and so retain its current international status and treaty obligations, as well as UK institutions such as the BBC and the Bank of England. | The committee concluded that in the event of Scottish independence the remainder of the UK would be the "continuator" state and so retain its current international status and treaty obligations, as well as UK institutions such as the BBC and the Bank of England. |
| Scotland would become a new "successor" state and would not have any automatic claim on those institutions, it claimed. | Scotland would become a new "successor" state and would not have any automatic claim on those institutions, it claimed. |
| Other conclusions | Other conclusions |
| The committee said there would be no constitutional or legal requirement for the UK government to adhere to the Scottish government's proposed timetable for full independence by 24 March 2016, and that they should not do so if that would undermine the interests of the rest of the UK. | The committee said there would be no constitutional or legal requirement for the UK government to adhere to the Scottish government's proposed timetable for full independence by 24 March 2016, and that they should not do so if that would undermine the interests of the rest of the UK. |
| Other conclusions reached by the committee included: | Other conclusions reached by the committee included: |
| Labour peer Baroness Jay of Paddington, the committee's chairwoman, said: "There has been considerable speculation about the position of MPs for Scottish constituencies in the event of a Yes vote on 18 September. | Labour peer Baroness Jay of Paddington, the committee's chairwoman, said: "There has been considerable speculation about the position of MPs for Scottish constituencies in the event of a Yes vote on 18 September. |
| "Our view is that, while they should continue to sit in the House of Commons until independence day itself, they should have no role in negotiating for the rest of the UK nor in scrutinising the UK government on those negotiations. | "Our view is that, while they should continue to sit in the House of Commons until independence day itself, they should have no role in negotiating for the rest of the UK nor in scrutinising the UK government on those negotiations. |
| "If they did it would be a clear conflict of interest as they are elected to parliament to represent constituents in Scotland." | "If they did it would be a clear conflict of interest as they are elected to parliament to represent constituents in Scotland." |
| SNP MP Angus MacNeil said the House of Lords was an "undemocratic anachronism stuffed to the gunnels with over 800 peers of the realm who answer to no electors and are often there because of privilege or patronage". | SNP MP Angus MacNeil said the House of Lords was an "undemocratic anachronism stuffed to the gunnels with over 800 peers of the realm who answer to no electors and are often there because of privilege or patronage". |
| He added: "To be lectured by them about timetables and for democratic processes is something that could only happen in Westminster. | He added: "To be lectured by them about timetables and for democratic processes is something that could only happen in Westminster. |
| "It will be elected representatives who will lead Scotland's transition to independence - not some elite club whose members can still turn up for just half an hour's work and get a £300 daily allowance." | "It will be elected representatives who will lead Scotland's transition to independence - not some elite club whose members can still turn up for just half an hour's work and get a £300 daily allowance." |
| The SNP has a long-standing position of not nominating members to the House of Lords. | The SNP has a long-standing position of not nominating members to the House of Lords. |