Scotland’s advocate general will say today that the SNP’s upcoming independence prospectus cannot be compared to the blueprint which paved the way for devolution.
Lord Wallace of Tankerness will use a speech in Aberdeen to dismiss claims that the nationalists’ white paper on independence, due to be published on Tuesday, follows the same process as the one which led to the creation of the Scottish Parliament.
The former deputy first minister – better known as Jim Wallace – believes there are fundamental differences between the two methods, highlighting that the SNP’s paper has not been produced on a cross-party basis, and that ministers will not be able to deliver all of it unilaterally.
Lord Wallace, who was Northern Isles MP and then Orkney MSP, was involved in the Constitutional Convention in the 1990s.
In a speech at Aberdeen University today, he will say: “As an active participant in the 1997 referendum I believe there are two fundamental reasons why this independence referendum is most definitely not comparable to 1997.
“The 1997 white paper was rooted in the work of the Scottish Constitutional Convention.
“It was an open process. It engaged civic Scotland. Nor was it the preserve of one political party although, regrettably, the SNP chose to stay outside the tent.”
“By contrast, the Scottish Government’s white paper has been developed under conditions of the strictest secrecy and will be the product of one single party.”
Lord Wallace added: “Most significantly, the 1997 blueprint for a devolved Scottish Parliament was proposed by a new government with a large majority in the House of Commons which could be confident of delivering the content of its white paper.
“The crucial difference with the 2013 white paper is not only that it won’t command the consensus so evident in 1997, but also that it is being published by a government which can’t promise or guarantee delivery.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The certainty offered by independence is that it will put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands, with all decisions affecting the country taken by those who live and work here.
“The white paper is a landmark publication on our country’s future which is first and foremost for the people of Scotland – as such we are looking forward to making sure the public are as well informed as possible about its contents and the huge opportunities offered by independence.”
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