Lib Dems condemn confusing referendum questions (Aberdeen Central Liberal Democrats)

Aberdeen Central Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems condemn confusing referendum questions

February 26, 2010 5:21 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Mike Rumbles MSP has condemned the SNP's proposed referendum questions for being deliberately confusing.

Research shows that the average person will need to have been at school for at least 22 years before they can be expected to understand the independence question. This backs up the confusion revealed by a random survey carried out by Newsnight Scotland on Thursday of people on the street.

Liberal Democrats ran the proposed wording for the independence ballot paper through programmes designed to show how many years of schooling readers require to understand the content. The results varied from 22 to 26 years of schooling. This would mean that in order to understand fully the questions, voters have to be at least 26 years old.

Commenting, Mr Rumbles said:

"Alex Salmond says voters will have a clear choice, but this research shows that the average person will need at least 22 years of schooling under their belts before they can be expected to understand his referendum questions.

"This means voters should be at least 26, but the SNP want 16 year olds to vote. Are they deliberately trying to confuse the electorate?

"There's a world of difference between the Braveheart rhetoric we usually get from Alex Salmond and the tricky language on his ballot paper."