Salmond: Only poll on independence can deliver change

Published on Sunday 29 November 2009 22:44

ALEX Salmond will today claim that the only chance for constitutional change in Scotland will be for politicians in Holyrood to back his party's independence referendum bill.

The First Minister will make his pitch as he unveils the referendum bill white paper this morning at Napier University in Edinburgh, as part of the most extravagant St Andrew's Day celebrations in Scottish history.

He will argue that a majority of Scots want constitutional change and that the unionist Calman Commission route will deliver nothing new for Scotland.

But his hopes of building support for a referendum have been hit by a fresh blow as an Ipsos Mori poll put support for an immediate independence referendum at just 25 per cent.

Opposition party leaders last night confirmed their intention to vote down a referendum bill at the earliest possible stage.

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray described reports that the SNP was looking at a four-option question as a sign of desperation on the issue. He said: "The great majority of Scots are telling Alex Salmond to drop his referendum but he is not listening.

"The First Minister is increasingly out of touch. His intention to add another question is a sign of desperation. It is not more questions in a referendum people want, but more action on the economy."

Constitutional minister Mike Russell denied there would be a four-option question, but confirmed a third option for greater devolved powers, possibly along the lines of the Calman Commission's proposals on Holyrood controlling more tax powers.

The suggested wording of the central question is that the Scottish Government should be given permission to negotiate for independence, but the final wording would not be decided until later.

The Scottish Government said that the Ipsos Mori poll supported its argument for a referendum, especially one which includes options on greater powers, not just independence. It said the survey showed 75 per cent support for the principle of a referendum, with two-thirds favouring independence or more powers.

"This poll shows overwhelming support for both the principle of holding a referendum on Scotland's future, and for a major advance in Holyrood's powers," said Mr Russell. "That is a ringing endorsement of the Scottish Government's approach to constitutional change.

"Findings like this also depend on how you ask the question, which is why our white paper will set out the options for Scotland in more detail and in a clearer way then ever before."

The Scottish Government argued last night that a likely Conservative victory at the next general election would mean that the Calman proposals, including devolving powers on drink driving and airguns, would be kicked into the long grass.

But Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said her party would put out its own white paper soon after an election victory, and would not be tied to last week's white paper from Labour.

She said that shadow chancellor George Osborne had made it clear in an article for The Scotsman that the Conservatives would support the Calman proposals. She also claimed her party was leading the efforts for "mutual respect" between the two parliaments.

Miss Goldie added: "Support for separation is slumping to all-time lows. Even the SNP admit their doomed referendum will cost at least 9 million and it will be a monumental waste of parliamentary time.

"The SNP are at the extreme of the constitutional debate. Their white paper is irrelevant – just as the SNP is for the forthcoming British general election. Alex Salmond should scrap his white paper and get on with the job he was elected to do."

However, there were further signs of friction in the "pro-union front" with the Conservatives and Labour under fire from the Liberal Democrats' Scottish affairs spokesman at Westminster, Alistair Carmichael. The MP accused David Cameron of selling Scotland "a pig in a poke".

He went on: "The Labour Party, by continuing their policy of delay, have allowed the Tories off the hook as far as tax powers for the Scottish Parliament are concerned. David Cameron promises us only another white paper after the election. It is clear they have no intention of delivering what the people of Scotland want.

"It's equally clear that for all the spin and hype, David Cameron is no more in tune with the people of Scotland than Margaret Thatcher was."

He added: "The real scandal in this is that the Labour Party are prepared to let the Tories off with this outrageous breach of faith. They can both run from delivering tax powers, but come the next election there will be nowhere for them to hide."

The attack will strengthen suspicions that the Lib Dems will be the first unionist party to break ranks and join the SNP in supporting a referendum.

TIMELINE

&#149 TODAY – White paper on independence referendum is introduced by the Scottish Government as part of celebrations of St Andrew's Day. (Peter Howson's vision of the saint is pictured above).

&#149 25 JAN, 2010 – Burns Night (right) and the SNP will lay down the referendum bill in Holyrood. It will then be considered by a committee – perhaps that which deals with European and external affairs – and sent to Holyrood for a first-reading debate.

&#149 24 JUNE, 2010 – The anniversary of Bannockburn, (below), and a Thursday just before the parliamentary summer recess. There is some speculation that if the bill is not killed off at an earlier stage, the SNP may hope to have the third and final reading on this date.

&#149 30 NOVEMBER, 2010 – Scotland's national day comes round again, and is the date on which the SNP is believed to want to hold the referendum, in the hope that added nationalistic fervour will give its case a boost.