'You don't lose your nationality because you move house' - Readers' Online Comments

Nicola Sturgeon has hit out at plans to give Scots living elsewhere in the UK a vote in a second Independence referendum. UK Government ministers are reportedly pushing to allow Scots living in any part of the UK to vote in a future independence referendum. Readers had this to say...

How do we decide who qualifies to be a Scottish voter?

David White: 100 per cet no! They don’t live in Scotland. And besides the UK Government has assured everyone there will not be a referendum anyway. Why are you even giving this idea any attention?

Sarah Lakin Humphries: So immigrants and criminals can but Scots born and bred and working away can't? No wonder our country has gone to the dogs.

Linda Martin: Live in the country you can have a say or if you own property and expect to return yes. My son and daughter, born in Scotland, now work in England but accept that until they return they have no say. I currently live overseas but am returning permanently this year so I can vote in all elections and have a say in how my country is run. If immigrants have chosen Scotland they also have a right to vote.

Kim Malherbe: You don't lose your nationality because you move house.

Alison Bodie: You lose the right to have a say in your nation’s governance when you decide to leave and cease to input to their economy. This applies to any voter anywhere in the world.

Bryn Dell: Should all Europeans have had a vote in Brexit as the outcome would more than likely have an impact on them too?

Christine McLevy: Scots living in other parts of the UK should get a vote. Any referendum that would result in a border and partition of their country they should have a say as it affects them. They have not emigrated, they have exercised their right to live and work anywhere on this island. If criminals, asylum seekers, people with no fixed abode and 16-year-olds get to vote then so should should all Scots in the UK.

Emanuele Hills-Pies: As a 'local' election the franchise is chosen by the Scottish Government. The UK Government has realised that the arguments against a referendum are becoming less credible every day and they are trying to change the goalposts as they fear losing Scotland.

David Howie: To suggest that your right to vote should be based on ethnicity or place of birth could be considered as narrow-minded nationalism. The only people that should be allowed to vote in an independence referendum are those that are on the electoral register in Scotland. For example, suppose someone from England 18 years ago on holiday in Scotland had a premature birth. The child when released from hospital was immediately taken to live in England and has never visited Scotland. Under the suggested proposal, this person would be allowed to vote in an independence referendum. Just shows how stupid the proposal is!

James Stuart: So basically what is being said – despite the reasons for and against – is that you are only Scottish if you still live in Scotland. If work or family have taken you elsewhere you no longer count. Now if anyone else had said this about anyone else it would be branded racism or some sort of anti phobia and would be shouted and screamed about from the rafters.

Lillian Wells: Actually what is being said is if you don't have to live under the result of the vote you shouldn't have one. Influencing what others will have to live with is wrong.