Independence referendum social media post analysis: FOI release

Information requested

With regards this Scottish Government post on 26 May 2026:

https://x.com/scotgov/status/2059331720365637860?s=20

The motion S7M-00105 passed by the Scottish Parliament on the same date was deliberately worded to be limited to the devolution of the powers to hold an independence referendum. This is clearly not the same as actually voting for or supporting a referendum on independence.

I would like to see any discussion or analysis on the contents of this post and, separately if it exists, how the contents of this post is compatible with the motion actually passed.

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested, where the social media post was drafted and cleared by relevant officials.

Exemptions under Sections 30 and 38(1)(b) of FOISA apply to some of the information you have requested:

Section 30: Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs

Section 30 of FOISA exempts information from disclosure where disclosure would, or would be likely to, cause substantial harm to one or more of the following:

• the maintenance of the convention of the collective responsibility of the Scottish Ministers
• the free and frank provision of advice
• the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation
• the effective conduct of public affairs

Section 38(1)(b) - Personal Information

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the information requested because it is personal data of a third party, eg names/contact details of individuals below the Senior Civil Service, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and in section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. This exemption is not subject to the ‘public interest test’, so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202600518359 - Information released - Annex

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