Referendum lunacy  

The future of the UK could be decided by foreigners if the Coalition Government’s plans for the forthcoming Scottish referendum are allowed to stand. There are an estimated 253,000 foreign nationals living in Scotland and many of them will have a vote. Under the UK’s absurdly anachronistic voting laws, citizens of 53 Commonwealth countries as well as the Republic of Ireland are allowed to vote in all elections. This concession is reciprocated only in Ireland and in a tiny handful of Commonwealth countries. EU nationals can vote in Scottish Parliamentary elections but not for Westminster. Perversely, they will also be able to vote in the Independence referendum. In the document Scotland’s Constitutional Future (see attached) the Government says certain categories of non UK citizens should be able to participate in the referendum because they already can vote in Scottish Parliamentary...