Commenting on SNP plans to entrust the running of their independence referendum to a new, Scottish body, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Mike Rumbles said:

"The only body with a track record in this area is the Electoral Commission.

"If the SNP want to hand the constitutional future of Scotland to a different organisation, they need to explain why.

"In the absence of this explanation, we have to conclude they wish to change the status quo for political advantage.

"This looks like a political fix with the SNP not just trying to fix the election, but its outcome too."