EDINBURGH, September 26 (RIA Novosti) – Scotland's only United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Member of European Parliament (MEP) David Coburn did not vote in the Scottish independence, referendum because he has moved, and is only registered to vote in London, Coburn admitted in an interview with Channel 4 News on Friday.
Later, using social media, Coburn explained, "I'm one of 1.2 million Scots born outside Scotland disenfranchised from voting in the independence referendum thanks to [UK Prime Minister] Cameron and [Scottish First Minister] Salmond," a reference to the Edinburgh Agreement signed by the leaders of the UK and Scottish Governments, which permitted only those living in Scotland to vote in the referendum.
The Electoral Commission told RIA Novosti there was nothing, preventing Coburn representing Scotland and living in another part of the UK.
"To be an MEP candidate you have to be over 18-years-old, be a British citizen, or a citizen of another EU state," a spokesman for the Electoral Commission told RIA Novosti.
"Residency in the region or country you are a candidate in is not a criteria or requirement for EU elections," the spokesman added.
Scottish voters took part in a referendum on independence on September 18 and opted by a margin of 55 percent to 45 percent (2,001,926 votes to 1,617,989) to remain part of the UK.
Anyone over the age of 16 years and resident in Scotland at the time of the referendum was eligible to vote.
