Tory plan to give Scots around the world a say on independence

Lord drafts independence bill for all ‘tartan’ relations to be consulted, including Hollywood A-listers.

Plans to canvas Hollywood royalty on Scottish independence have been drafted. It comes days after rock legend David Bowie waded into the referendum debate and gave his backing to the union.

Now, a Scottish peer has put in train legislation in the House of Lords that if passed would force Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael to consult everyone who can trace their ancestry back to Scotland on the future of the country.

It means stars whose family come from Scotland like Oscar winners Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and actresses Keira Knightley and Jennifer Aniston would be asked what they thought.

The proposed consultation would even include US president Barack Obama who can trace his roots to several countries including Scotland.

The plans have been labelled “laughable” by the SNP. But the Tory Lord who drew up the proposed law has written to the Prime Minister urging him to back the bill.

Lord Selsdon, who himself claims to be partly Scottish, said: “One of the greatest assets of Scotland, and the United Kingdom, lies in the 20-40 million Scots living worldwide who are proud of their ancestry and value their historic relationship and culture.

“These Scots are now confronted with proposals for a major constitutional change to Scotland without any possibility of being able to express their own views.

“The referendum is very significant for the future of the United Kingdom.

“Scots worldwide are entitled to have their voice heard.”

Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil said: “This is laughable an unelected Tory peer from London proposing to create a consultation on the referendum for ‘certain’ Scottish people.

“His definition of ‘Scottish’ includes people who have a parent from Scotland but who have never lived here themselves.

“One of the main benefits of independence is having the decisions for Scotland made by the people who care most about Scotland the people who live and work here.”

The Scottish Referendum (Consultation) Bill calls on the government to set up a consultation allowing the millions of Scots living in the rest of the UK and abroad to have their say.

Lord Selsdon has suggested that could be done through an online forum, emailing prominent Scots, Scottish groups or focus groups hosted by embassies around the world.

The results would have to be published at least a month before the September 18 polling day.

Figures drawn up by the House of Lords library estimate there are around 1.1 million people born in Scotland now living elsewhere. England, Australia, the United States and Canada are the most popular destinations for expats.

However the draft bill drawn up by Lord Selsdon uses the more archaic “domicile of origin” measure to define people as Scottish. Domicile of origin means anyone who can trace their family background to Scotland, no matter how remote, would be entitled to take part in the consultation.

According to Lord Selsdon that could be as many as 40 million people worldwide.

And it would include dozens of famous faces who can claim Scottish ancestry, including Kim Kardashian, Donald Trump, Meatloaf, Russell Crowe, Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, rapper Eminem, film star Kiefer Sutherland, and Canadian songstress Joni Mitchell.