Scots MPs keep Westminster seats after referendum

By ANDY PHILIP
Published 15th May 2014, 18:13 BST
A House of Lords committee concluded that Scottish MP's will keep their seats. Picture: PAA House of Lords committee concluded that Scottish MP's will keep their seats. Picture: PA
A House of Lords committee concluded that Scottish MP's will keep their seats. Picture: PA
SCOTTISH MPs should be allowed to keep their seats beyond a Yes vote in the referendum, a House of Lords committee has concluded.

Peers say the 59 MPs north of the border should leave only at the formal point of independence from the UK.

It follows speculation about what would happen to Scottish members after the vote on September 18.

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Senior Tories urged Prime Minister David Cameron in March to block Scots from voting in the 2015 general election.

The peers’ conclusion is in line with the Scottish Government’s White Paper on independence which argues people must be represented politically at UK level until separation.

The Lords constitution committee also recommends Scotland should be seen as a successor state, meaning the UK would keep its existing international agreements while Scotland has to renegotiate.

Baroness Jay of Paddington, chairman of the committee, said: “There has been considerable speculation about the position of MPs for Scottish constituencies in the event of a ‘Yes’ vote on September 18.