DEMOCRACY IN RENFREWSHIRE

That this House congratulates Renfrew District Council for holding a referendum on the proposals by Her Majesty's Government to re-organise local government in those areas directly affected by the plans; notes that 56.9 per cent. of the electorate of Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor participated in the ballot and that 78.5 per cent. voted against their communities being included in the proposed East Renfrewshire authority; notes that 67 per cent. of the electorate of Ralston participated in the ballot and that 82 per cent. voted against their community being included in the proposed East Renfrewshire authority; notes that 78.4 per cent. of the electorate of the Dykebar area of Paisley participated in the ballot and that 91.2 per cent. voted against their community being included in the proposed East Renfrewshire authority; notes that these figures mean that overall, almost 8 per cent. of those who participated in the referendum voted against the Government's proposals; notes that the overall level of participation was 59 per cent., which is far higher than the average turnout at local authority elections; believes that the results of this referendum have infinitely more democratic legitimacy than the Government's so-called consultation exercise; recognises that the people of these communities want to play no part in the formation of a Greater Eastwood authority; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to listen to the people and to scrap its plans to gerrymander the local government boundaries of Renfrewshire in particular and of Scotland in general.