This is an extremely important development in the context of UK devolution, representing the first use of powers to amend aspects of the election of the Scottish Parliament (SP), which required a supermajority (2/3) (it passed by 92 votes to 27). 1/
By this measure, in relation to matters of franchise, the SP takes itself rather far away from wider 'Westminster'-driven franchise, as it enshrines the votes of EU citizens (which may be rolled back by Westminster), protects Commonwealth citizen voting rights 2/
And widens the franchise to include persons of all nationalities who have a right to remain, plus certain groups of prisoners, otherwise covered by the UK's previous blanket ban on prisoner voting. 3/
In devolution terms this represents an articulation of a distinct concept of 'Scottish citizenship', which differentiates not just in matters of social welfare, health and education (as happens already now), but in the civic matter of voting. 4/
We can expect this broader residence-based franchise to be the starting point for the regional franchise in any (so far hypothetical) future Scottish referendum on independence. 5/
The wider the gulf between a distinct regional Scottish citizenship and the wider conception of UK citizenship, the easier it becomes to conceive of 'independence' as being only a small step or change. This may influence the outcome of #indyref2. 6/
Many thanks to @ruviz for taking the time to comment upon this new piece of legislation, and also congratulations on your work advising the @scotrefcouncil. What's great - as the supermajority shows - is that you were pushing at an open door. ENDS
