Let's have more referendums, says Labour MSP

A senior Labour MSP has called for Scottish voters to be given a referendum vote on contentious policy issues.

Richard Simpson told Holyrood the move could give “clear guidance” on issues such as a soft opt-out system for organ donation as well as assisted suicide.

The Shadow Minister for Public Services and Wealth Creation also suggested that voting for local, Scottish Parliament and EU elections all take place at the same time.

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The calls are contained in a written submission the Labour MSP sent to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee ahead of evidence being taken on the Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill.

The proposed legislation seeks to extend the next Scottish Parliament term to five years to prevent a clash with the UK general election, whilst council elections would also be rescheduled.

Simpson, who made clear he was speaking in a personal capacity and not in his role as a shadow minister, claimed the bill is “very modest”.

“In the interests of democracy and efficiency I believe that the opportunity of this proposed shift should to be taken to move the Scottish election permanently to the European cycle with voting for local and Scottish Parliament at the same time as EU elections,” he said.

“The register of eligible voters for all three being the same I also believe that it should be possible to hold a ‘referendum’ vote with the ballot on issues, other than constitutional ones, in the way propositions are tabled in some States in the USA.”

Referendum procedures are currently in place in many US states, allowing voters to directly decide on key issues rather than elected representatives.

“I think that there are issues where the Scottish voters should have their views assessed,” he told Holyrood.

“It may be advisory rather than an absolute, but as a mechanism the concept of a ‘proposition’ system has merit and should be considered.”

Among the other changes mooted by the Mid Scotland and Fife MSP are that voting should take place on Saturday and Sunday rather than a week day.

A fresh attempt should be made to move to electronic and new forms of voting, “despite the horrendous problems experienced in 2007”, Simpson added.

James Mitchell, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Edinburgh, said: “The attraction of holding Scottish parliamentary elections on the same day as local elections is that turnout would be higher in local elections but at the cost of marginalising local elections.

“Local election would be subsumed under parliamentary elections and do little to assist local government.

“The idea of initiatives and other referendums is worth considering but treated with care. The motivation behind this proposal is laudable but the danger is that this will result in limited debates caught up in wider debates.

“If we are to have referendums on major issues then there needs to be enough time and space to discuss these matters. But it should be stressed that this proposal should stimulate a worthwhile discussion on the nature of Scottish democracy.”

Willie Sullivan, director of the Electoral Reform Society, added: “These are all good ideas in principle and things we generally support. It would be very useful to have them discussed by the parliament so that all the implications of such reform can be more fully explored.

“Free and fair public elections are precious things. Their operation should evolve with the times but such changes need to be fully considered.”

The Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee will take evidence from Minister for Parliamentary Business Joe FitzPatrick on the Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill this morning.