Michael Moore welcomes Electoral Commission report
Michael Moore welcomes the Electoral Commission report based on research with a wide range of people and organisations across Scotland.
Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore
Commenting on the Electoral Commission鈥檚 report today, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said:
鈥淚 welcome the Electoral Commission鈥檚 report. It is a highly respected independent body which provides聽 essential oversight and advice on the neutrality of the referendum process. 聽 鈥淲e accept the Commission鈥檚 advice on the clarity of the question, the聽funding levels for the referendum聽and on the clarity of the process. The UK Government has always acted on the advice of the Electoral Commission for every previous referendum. 聽 鈥淲e are also pleased the Commission recognises independence cannot be pre-negotiated and that voters must have a better understanding of the huge changes becoming a separate country would entail. We are setting out our evidence-based analysis of Scotland鈥檚 position in the UK and the Scottish Government must do the same.
鈥榃e聽聽have聽already been setting out our views in public on the issue of the post-referendum process.聽 We聽will spell out further thoughts on this process in our forthcoming analysis papers, including our first paper, in February. Once this has been published, we will be happy to discuss our paper with the Scottish Government.聽
鈥淭he UK Government鈥檚 aim is to have a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland. We have delivered our side of the bargain through the Edinburgh Agreement and very shortly the power to hold the vote will be transferred to the Scottish Parliament. As part of that process, the Scottish Government signed up to a referendum of the highest standards.鈥�