UK Parliament home

This petition was submitted during the 2017 to 2019 Parliament

View other petitions from this Parliament

Closed Official observers from OSCE ODIHR to monitor the next Scottish referendum.

Closed on

A Scottish Independence referendum determines the relationship between two potentially separate states. The official body for monitoring democratic procedures within the OSCE is its Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Monitoring includes media balance and ballot conduct

Only a current state member of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe can request an official observer mission. Competence therefore lies at Westminster not Holyrood.
This petition witnesses public concern at the fairness of postal ballot conduct of a future Scottish Independence referendum and especially that broadcast media are biased.
ODIHR send an advance team weeks or months ahead to monitor media balance.
If there are no problems, why not get ODIHR confirmation?

11,138 signatures

Show on a map

100,000

Petition progress

View all updates for this petition, with the most recent first.

  • Petition closed

  • Government responded to this petition

    In 2014 people in Scotland voted decisively to remain part of the United Kingdom. The UK Government is committed to upholding and respecting the result of the 2014 referendum.

    Read the response in full

    Scotland had an independence referendum in 2014. It was legal, fair and decisive and people in Scotland voted by a significant margin to remain part of the UK. The UK Government is committed to upholding and respecting the result of the 2014 referendum.

    The UK Government welcomes observers – either from within the UK or from overseas – who wish to observe electoral process. It is open to any individual or organisation to apply to the Electoral Commission for accreditation to be an observer at UK elections. The functions of the Electoral Commission in relation to Scottish Parliament and Scottish local elections are generally for the Scottish Parliament to determine.

    Scotland Office

  • Government will respond to this petition

    This petition got more than 10,000 signatures meaning that government will respond to it.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 6 November 2019.