Scotland 'should run elections'

There were 140,000 rejected ballots in last year's election

Continuing to run Scottish elections from Westminster would be an "affront to democracy", electoral reform campaigners have argued.

The Electoral Reform Society said it could see no reason why the Scottish Government could not run the elections.

Last year's ballot ended in chaos after 140,000 votes were rejected.

A subsequent independent report said control should be in the hands of one body and that the Scottish Government would be the logical choice.

Ken Ritchie, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said he had written to Scottish Government parliamentary business manager Bruce Crawford on the issue.

We have not heard a strong reason for the status quo Ken Ritchie Electoral Reform Society

He added: "We can see no reason for the Scottish Government not having control of the Scottish Parliament elections.

"Indeed, we believe it would be an affront to democracy if the Westminster parliament, of whose members less than 9% represent Scottish seats, could impose its will on the Scottish Parliament in this matter without having a very strong reason to do so.

"We have not heard a strong reason for the status quo."

Mr Crawford claimed the comments clearly demonstrated the case for the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to have responsibility for the country's elections.

"It is undoubtedly the right way forward for our democracy - as recommended by the Gould Report, and approved by parliament," he said.

"It's time for political posturing on this matter to stop.

"The Westminster government must recognise the agreed will of the Scottish Parliament for the further devolution of executive and legislative powers to the Scottish Government and the parliament."

Build trust

The society has been a long-running campaigner for a single transferable vote (STV) election system to be used in Holyrood elections.

This system was introduced for the first time last year to elect local councillors.

A Scotland Office spokesman said its priority was to build trust in the system.

"The Scotland Office has recently completed a thorough consultation process into the issues arising from the Gould report which considered a wide spectrum of opinions and will publish the results in due course," he said.

"The Electoral Reform Society is entirely entitled to its view on the future of elections in Scotland, though that view is not universally shared."