New Offers and a 'New Kind of Union' violate the Referendum's spirit  - the promises given under the Edinburgh Agreement and the Scottish Independence Referendum Act!

On Sunday, September 7th, 2014, the British finance minister George Osborne, announced plans by the government of the United Kingdom to violate the terms of the Scottish Independence Referendum Act,  2013, (SIRA).

In a televised interview, Mr Osborne stated the government's intention to present the people of Scotland with a new offer of powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament if they voted against independence in the referendum on September 18th, 2014. This offer is campaigning by policy and it is illegal! It was followed on Septeber 8th by an announcement by former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, that a 'no' vote would see a new kind of union with twelve specific powers devolved to the Scottish government.

During the extended consultation process for drafting the referendum legislation, the option of greater devolutionary powers for the Scottish Parliament was suggested for the ballot. It was rejected by the same government that is about to announce it in a desperate move to persuade voters to say 'no' to Scottish independence. Coincidentally, this announcement comes on the heels of the very first polls to put 'yes' and independence ahead of 'no' and the union. 

Wether or not the politicians getting ready to make this offer can be trusted to keep their word, there is much more at stake than if or what they will deliver. The law, the spirit and the intent behind the entire referendum process will be overturned and the outcome influenced by the kind of manipulation that was meant to prevented by the Edinburgh Agreement and the SIRA, if this tactic is allowed.

Osborne's announcement, (now followed by Gordon Brown's '12 new powers'), is:

an attempt to introduce an unofficial option to the ballot by introducing a new - and unilaterally formulated - offer of legislative power;

an attempt to alter the scope and significance of the independence referendum itself outwith the parameters defined and agreed by the parties to the Edinburgh Agreement as well as by the terms of the SIRA. (This also contravenes the democratic and collaborative process underpinning the entire referendum process.);

an attempt to influence voters, at the last minute, against the proposal for independence. This is clearly evident from the fact that a further devolution of power, a previously rejected provision, has only been announced following the first polls suggesting that a majority may favour Scottish independence;

exactly the kind of announcement outlawed by clause 7 of the SIRA, and the Ediburgh Agreement by which the UK government agreed to be bound by the SIRA, which prohibits the Scottish Government or public bodies, (and by the Edinburgh Agreement the UK govt and publi bodies), from 'publishing material or making announcements which deal with issues raised by the referendum question, which put arguments for or against any outcome or which are designed to encourage voting'.

I'm asking the Electoral Commission and the Scottish Cabinet to uphold the law and to force all parties, public bodies and officials to abide both by that law and by the promises it made under the Edinburgh Afreement to the Scottish people.

Addendum 10.9.14: Since the Electoral Commission has no power to enforce these laws or agreements, I am asking them to pass this and the petitions and letters to the Scottish Cabinet Secretariat for immediate judicial review and an application for injunction.