The Scottish government has agreed to amend the question being proposed about Scottish independence in the upcoming referendum after concerns were raised by the Electoral Commission watchdog that the original was a “leading question”.
The SNP had originally wanted to ask the yes/no question “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?”, but they have now agreed that the question in autumn 2014 will be the simpler “Should Scotland be an independent country?”.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the Scottish government will accept in full the commission’s recommendations to the more neutrally worded question as well as the increases to the proposed campaign spending limits in the 16 week run-up to the referendum. The Yes Scotland and Better Together campaigns will now have a £1.5 million spending limit, which is double the £750,000 limit originally proposed, and there have also been changes to the limits on spending by the parties.
[note background=”#FFFFCC”]Spending Limits for the Referendum on Scottish Independence
Yes Scotland: £1,500,000
Better Together: £1,500,000
SNP: £1,344,000
Scottish Labour: 396,000
Scottish Lib Dems: £201,000
Scottish Green Party: £150,000
Other registered campaigners: £150,000
Campaigns spending below £10,000 are not required to register[/note]
