TANKERNESS RUNS AGROUND

Lord Tankerness is legally wrong when on BBC Newsnight 21^st Aug 2012 he asserted that the “Scottish Government” had a mandate to hold a referendum on theUnion as a consequence of the Scottish Parliament election held on Thu 5th May 2011.

On 5th May 2011 the Scotland Act 1998 was in force and that legislation explicitly prevents the Scottish Parliament

from being competent on the matter of theUnion.

Note

Lord Tankerness is Her Majesty's Advocate General forScotlandwhose duty it is to advise the Crown and UK Government on Scots law.