Labour And If Scotland Votes 'yes'.....

[Zacs-Master]

In May 2015 there is a UK general election (when Scotland is still a member of the UK). 40 of Scotland’s 59 MPs are Labour. Were Labour to win the election what would happen in March 2016 when Scotland go independent and all the Labour MPs go to the Scottish parliament thereby resulting in Labour not having a majority in the HoC?

[2sp_]

I've never thought about that Zac.

Maybe there would need to be another general election called? Be interested to see what the actual answer is.

[Zacs-Master]

Neither had I 2sp but weecalf's post got me thinking.

[THECORBYLOON]

They could go into coalition with another party and retain a majority or there could be a Confidence vote which, if they lost, would result in a new election.

[THECORBYLOON]

The Scots MPs would not go to the Scots Parliament as they would have been Westminster MPs by the way.

[ToraToraTora]

The 59 Scottish seats would be dissolved and the commons would limp on but I imagine that all the parties would agree to hold a general election promptly. However it looks increasingly like this and other questions are purely academic.

[scooping]

But the Labour MPs were elected to the Commons so there would be no transfer of Westminster MPs to a new Scottish parliament.

[murraymints]

not going to happen !

[Zacs-Master]

So Corby, we would have MPs in the commons representing a Scottish constituency?

[ToraToraTora]

yes scooping thats why i said dissolved.

[ToraToraTora]

no zacs there would not be any Scot constituencies in Westminster.

[Zacs-Master]

I don't pretend to understand all of this but it is interesting. I appreciate this is probably an academic discussion but have the Yes brigade thought about the implications of 'their' MPs still being in the commons for 18 months, or even realised it would happen?

[Zacs-Master]

Sorry forgot link
http://nottspolitics.org/2013/03/06/what-will-become-of-the-may-2015-uk-parliament-if-scotland-votes-yes-on-independence/

[jim360]

My expectation is that if there is a "Yes" vote, then in 2015 an election will be called essentially on the ticket of "How shall we approach the negotiations with Scotland?". This will probably last not very long, and would inevitably include Scottish voters for the Scottish constituencies, so we would see a shortish one-issue parliament lasting as long as it takes to conduct said negotiations. Once those are finished a second election would be called.

[THECORBYLOON]

There will be MPs representing the Westminster constituencies in Scotland until Independence but they will cease to be Scots MPs as they will no longer represent a part of the UK .

[Zacs-Master]

Would it not be simpler to keep the constituencies and MPs as they are and the Scottish parliament just adopt them or are they seen as English imposed?

[2sp_]

I look forward to finding out just how it will work...

[THECORBYLOON]

ZACS there are seventy-three MSPs representing constituencies elected in the same way as in General Elections. Eight regions in Scotland return seven MSPs based on proportional representation so the total is 129 MSP.

[mikey4444]

Zacs...not sure if your time-line is entirely correct. If the YES vote goes ahead next month, I think it will take quite some time for Scotland to achieve full independence. Certainly it will not happen in time to effect May 2015.

As Salmond has still not told us what Plan B and Plan C is, regarding the Poond, any severing of our nations couldn't go ahead until the currency has been sorted out.

There would have to be another general election in the rest of Britain, as well a first one in Scotland. It could be that Labour MP's or any other MPs come to that, may not want to serve in a Parliament that just exists in Scotland. I am not sure if MPs elected in 2015 can just turn into Scottish MPs.

Also the Euro MEP's would cease to function until Scotland has joined the European Union again, this time as a sovereign nation in its own right.

And who will the Sovereign be ? Or will Scotland be a Republic, with an elected President ?

Its for all these reasons that I can't see a YES vote going ahead. Its going to take more than Salmond's Harry Lauder act to convince people that it needs to happen.

Interesting times ahead !