Scotland Fights For Independence?
TYCOON Sir Tom Hunter yesterday branded Alex Salmond’s plans for an independence referendum as an “X Factor voting system”.
Billionaire Sir Tom said it was time for a referendum - but blasted Salmond’s “preference voting” proposals.
Based on a single transferable vote system, like that used in local government elections, it would involve Scots ranking options “1,2,3″, rather than saying “yes” or “no” to independence.
Mathematically, it could see Scotland become independent if just 26 per cent made it their top choice as voters’ second choices would also be taken into account.
Sir Tom said: “It is my firm belief that the Scottish people deserve the right to vote unequivocally on one key issue.
“Other issues may follow but there is only one vote: Do you want Scotland to be independent or not? Yes or no?
“There can be no vote roll-up - you simply cannot utilise an STV system to determine Scotland’s fundamental future. Mao Tse Tung would be turning in his grave.”
Sir Tom, who is Scotland’s richest man, described the system as “Simon Cowell’s X Factor voting system”.
Salmond revealed plans for an STV referendum last week.
He said the system would be necessary if Scots were to have a choice of three options - independence, more powers for Holyrood or no change.
Sir Tom said: “We need a majority of Scots to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to independence, end of story.
“A referendum is compelling because we Scots want an answer to our collective future so we can invest in it, whatever we choose, over the long term.”
Labour and Tory MSPs slammed the plans.
But the First Minister believes it is his only hope of winning support for a referendum.
That is because a three-way ballot would include the option of granting more powers to Holyrood - favoured by Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories.
Scots Labour leader Wendy Alexander said: “Sir Tom Hunter is certainly right that Alex Salmond’s notion that he can gerrymander the break-up of the UK through STV is an absurd idea.
“There is no majority for independence.”
But Salmond said: “I welcome Sir Tom’s intervention. The SNP’s first choice is to have a ‘yes or no’ referendum on independence and 2010 is the right timescale.
“But the government has signalled we’re perfectly willing to include the option of enhanced devolution on the ballot paper, if the London-based parties can agree on a specific scheme.
“Labour will struggle to explain their opposition to allowing the people to choose their own future.”
Recent opinion polls have put support for independence at between 23 and 35 per cent.
As I recall the original referendum proposal by the SNP was a straight yes/no on the ballot paper. It was the opposition who are insisting on a three way ballot paper.
Having accepted that the SNP is proposing to use the Single Transferable Voting system as used throughout the world to separate the options.
In so doing they are making it harder for themselves as the least popular option is likely to be the status quo. Their 2nd preference logically would be increased powers for the current parliament, not Independence.
However, the way the SNP is blitzing its way through this parliament, currently leading Labour by 4 points in the Westminster polls (for the first time ever), never mind the Holyrood polls, it wouldn’t matter how many questions were on the ballot or which system governed the poll, the SNP’s case for Independence will still win the day.