Second Scottish Referendum Bill

As amended

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1 The referendum

  1. A referendum shall be held with the Question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?", with options ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ indicated. The Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish devolved government have the responsibility of distributing the ballot. “A referendum shall be held with the question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”, with options ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ provided. The ballot paper should also be provided with questions and options in Scots and Scottish Gaelic.”
  2. The referendum shall be administered by the Scottish Government.
    3.  (Amdt. A)
  1. The referendum will take place in all areas under the jurisdiction of the Scottish governmentThe referendum shall be held in Scotland. (Amdt. B)
  2. This referendum will be open to all registered voters under the jurisdictions of the Scottish government, with the registrations closing one week before the end of the campaignThe referendum will be open to all registered voters in Scotland, with registration closing one week before the day of the referendum. (Amdt. C)
  3. If a majority of votes received are in the affirmative, HM Government will undertake to enter negotiations with the devolved government on matters such as the status of the border, defence, fishing, currency and any other relevant matters for the new Scottish state, with the understanding that Scotland will become an independent nation by the 1st January, 2022. Parliament is empowered to change that date if that is in joint agreement with the Scottish government.If a majority of votes received return a “Yes” vote, HM Government will undertake to enter negotiations with the devolved government on matters such as the status of the border, defence, fishing, currency and any other relevant matters for the new Scottish state, with the objective that Scotland become an independent nation by the 30th November, 2023. Parliament is empowered to change that date if that is in joint agreement with the Scottish government. (Amdt. E)
  4. If the majority of votes received are in the negative, HM Government will undertake to establish a royal commission on strengthening devolution in consultation with the Scottish devolved authorities, but undertake to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom.
  5. No referendum shall be held after this referendum on the question of Scottish independence until 10 years after the referendum, unless HM Government and Holyrood identify an extraordinary change in circumstances.No referendum shall be held after this referendum on the question of Scottish independence within 10 years of this referendum. This requirement is waived if either the Parliament of the United Kingdom or the Scottish Parliament identify an extraordinary change in circumstances. (Amdt. I)
  6. The timing of the referendum as well as the length of the campaign are pursuant to the advice and judgement of the speakership.The date of the referendum and the length of the campaign may be determined by an Order-in-Council. (Amdt. J)

2 Timing, commencement, and extent

  1. This bill applies to Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  2. This bill may be cited as the Second Scottish Referendum Act
  3. This bill comes into force upon royal assent.
  1. This Act applies to Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  2. This Act may be cited as the Second Scottish Referendum Act 2020.
  3. This Act comes into force upon receiving Royal Assent.
 (Amdt. L)
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