Scottish independence: Constitutional implications of the referendum

In the event of a 'yes' vote in the Scottish independence referendum, MPs for Scottish constituencies, including ministers, should retain their seats in the House of Commons until the day of independence itself. However, they should not negotiate for the rest of the UK on the terms of independence, scrutinise the UK’s negotiating team nor ratify a resulting agreement, as their first duty would be to their Scottish constituents rather than the interests of the rest of the UK.

The recommendation from the House of Lords Constitution Committee came in its report on the constitutional implications of the Scottish independence referendum, which was published in May 2014.

• Primary Source

United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on the Constitution: News, 16.05.14: Scottish MPs should not negotiate for UK if independence referendum votes ‘Yes’ http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/constitution-committee/news/scottish-report-published/

BBC News, 16.05.14: Scottish independence: UK 'could delay independence date' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27424993

ESO: Background information: Scotland's future: Your guide to an independent Scotland http://www.europeansources.info/record/scotlands-future-your-guide-to-an-independent-scotland/

ESO: Background information: Scotland: Referendum and independence. A select bibliography http://www.europeansources.info/record/scotland-referendum-and-independence-a-select-bibliography/

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