Swinney defends EU nationals' votes

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

John Swinney said the proposed approach would mirror that taken in past votes, such as last year's Holyrood elections or the referendum which led to the creation of the Scottish Parliament. He said many EU nationals have lived in Scotland for decades and "make a contribution" to the country.

The Scotland on Sunday reported that 58,004 people from European Union nations would be allowed to vote in the independence ballot.

The newspaper said the figure was revealed to MPs by Conservative Scotland Office minister David Mundell.

Launching the Scottish Government's consultation on the referendum on January 25, First Minister Alex Salmond said the people who "live, work and bring up their families in Scotland" should be the ones taking the decisions about the country's future.

On the BBC's Sunday Politics show in Scotland, Mr Swinney was asked whether such a situation was reasonable when 750,000 Scots living south of the border would not be able to vote in the referendum.

The Finance Secretary, who did not dispute the figures, told the programme: "The franchise issue is an important one for the referendum and the approach that we've taken is to essentially mirror the franchise that elected the Scottish Parliament in May of last year, the franchise that led to the referendum in 1997 which established the Scottish Parliament, which is essentially the local government and Scottish Parliament franchise.

"That does include the 60,000 EU nationals that are living in Scotland.

"But many of these individuals - I can think of constituents of my own who are EU nationals - have been living in Scotland for 10, 20, 30, 40 years, creating opportunities and wealth in our communities. This is very much their home, so they're able to make a contribution to Scotland.

"Of course, the one difference that we would put forward in the franchise is that we would want to extend the franchise to 16 and 17-year-olds to make sure that young people whose futures are entwined with the issues around the independence referendum have an opportunity to express an opinion."