A row has erupted after Advocate General Lord Wallace of Tankerness said Scottish peers would still be able to keep their seats in the House of Lords if the country became independent.
The former deputy first minister said it would be “fine” for people such as himself to remain lords if they moved their homes south of the border and paid UK tax.
But Lord Wallace, the deputy leader of the House of Lords, said he had no intention of moving and was confident voters would reject independence in the September referendum.
The former Liberal Democrat MP and MSP for Orkney made the remarks in an interview about Scotland’s transition out of the UK and into the EU.
Western Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil said the Lords idea was “ridiculous” and spoke volumes about Westminster priorities.
“The UK Government failed to take the opportunity to give their plans for Scotland after a Yes or No vote and the Ministry of Defence won’t even look at alternative plans for Trident – yet there are plans to keep Scottish peers in the House of Lords.
“The SNP’s long-standing position is that we believe those making laws should be elected by the people, and therefore we do not nominate members to the House of Lords.
“A Yes vote means that people can get rid of the expensive and unrepresentative Westminster tier – saving around £50million a year in not sending MPs and peers to London.”
A source close to Lord Wallace said: “The UK Government is not contingency planning for independence. Lord Wallace’s position is based on existing rules whereby if you are appointed a UK peer and live and pay taxes in the UK you can take up your seat in the House of Lords.”