Meeting call 'shows Tory leader taking election win for granted'

Published on Friday 2 October 2009 20:24

DAVID Cameron has been accused of taking the general election result for granted after he offered to meet the First Minister before polling took place.

The Conservative leader said he was willing to meet Alex Salmond as part of a process of "building on the devolution settlement" and showing his respect for the Scottish Parliament. But political opponents said the offer was a mistake and demonstrated complacency.

Mr Cameron said that, if elected, Conservative government ministers would be forced to explain decisions made in the pre-budget and budget reports to their Scottish counterparts.

"That is devolution working as it is meant to be," he said. "That is politicians working together in the best interests of Britain and Scotland. That is securing the future of a united Britain."

Bemoaning what he described as "the politics of gripe and grievance", Mr Cameron added: "Ever since the SNP won power at Holyrood, Gordon Brown has struggled to come to terms with forming a productive relationship with Alex Salmond, the Scottish Government and even Scottish Labour."

However, a spokesman for the First Minister said he would not countenance such a meeting, preferring instead to debate with Mr Cameron on the election hustings,

"Who does (Mr Cameron] think he is?" asked the spokesman. "(He] is making a big mistake in appearing to take the election for granted."