Scottish independence referendum: Cameron denies ‘dictating’ to Scotland
David Cameron has hit back at claims he is 'dictating' to Scotland
DAVID Cameron has denied accusations from the Scottish National Party that he is trying to “dictate” to Scotland over an independence referendum, as the political row over the issue intensified this week.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Cameron is “seeking to interfere” with the democratic rights of the Scottish people by trying to impose conditions on the format and timing of an independence referendum.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Nicola Sturgeon said the Scottish people had “overwhelmingly” voted the SNP into power in Holyrood last year, returning the nationalist party with a majority.
And she said there was “clarity” north of the border about the SNP commitment to hold the referendum in the second half of the Parliament.
Her comments came as the Westminster cabinet today debates the matter and decides whether to set a time-limit on the vote, and also whether to permit a third option of greater powers to be devolved to Scotland without full independence.
Reports suggest the Government in Westminster is considering offering the Scottish Parliament the chance to hold a legally binding referendum but only on the basis of a simple yes or no question and if it is held within a certain timeframe, thought to be 18 months.
• Poll: Should Downing Street set a time-limit on a Scottish independence referendum?
• Where prominent figures stand on the referendum issue
• Key dates on the road to a referendum
This morning Mr Cameron claimed he is prepared to work in tandem with Holyrood on the matter. “I think it is a least rational to put to the Scottish people ‘Would it be better to have a more fair and decisive question put earlier?”’ he told Sky News’s Boulton and Co.
“We are not going to dictate this. We have first of all got to resolve this legal uncertainty and then try and work with the Scottish Government on making sure there is a fair, clear and decisive outcome.”
But Ms Sturgeon told Today: “This is a blatant attempt to interfere in the decision that is really one for the Scottish Government in terms of the timing of the referendum and for the Scottish people in terms of the outcome.
“We were elected on the basis of our commitment to have a referendum in the second half of this parliamentary term.
“This is about Westminster seeking to interfere.
“We said very clearly in the election that our immediate priority if elected would be to seek to strengthen the Scotland Bill, currently going through the Westminster Parliament, to give the Scottish Parliament important economic job-creating powers, a referendum on independence in the second half of this parliamentary term.”
Ms Sturgeon said “most people” in Scotland listening to Mr Cameron would only hear a London-based, Tory-led Government trying to intervene on Scottish decision-making.
And she said that, while the SNP would prefer a simple yes or no question, there was a “significant body of opinion” behind a third option for financial independence for Scotland within the United Kingdom.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The decision on the future of Scotland should be for the Scottish people. That’s democracy.
“We have never ruled out a second question to give people in Scotland maximum choice.”
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Comments
There are 330 comments to this article
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Olag Mor
Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 10:13 PMhttp:www.scotsman.comthe-scotsmanukdavid_cameron_moves_to_seize_control_of_scottish_independence_referendum_1_2044340 How can he deny it?
Cannon Law
Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 04:18 PMIt doesnt matter who said it but delaying the vote to 2014 effectively moribunds the workings of Govt which if for example you rely on services or payments to be mde to you does not endear you to voting yes! Its also curious how the SNP refer to the parlaiment of the scots when a sizeable number of people living in Scotland arent scottish.. Is this some vieiled racist threat post the vote should it be a Yes?
Vote 'NO'
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10:02 PM327 Hopefully, yes. remember to tell everyone to help Scotland and Vote NO.
anglo
Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 04:59 PMWill Scots in the South be able to vote in this referendum
Simonsaid
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 03:29 PM"If the SNP win the election then we will hold a referendum in the second half of this parliament". If Salmond said that then why does it not appear in the SNP 2011 election manifesto. As for Salmond’s national conversation malarkey – well that is just to give him time to figure out how he is going to find the numbers he needs to get him over the independence winning line. I do not need to converse with the SNP about where to put a tick in a box. All they need to know is if they want independence they have to have a vote. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that Salmond wants to have the referendum at a time when he thinks he has the best chance of getting the result he wants – AND THAT TIME IS NOT NOW!
mordor
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 02:19 PMSimonsaid, As previously stated Alex Salmond said live on national television during an election debate "If the SNP win the election then we will hold a referendum in the second half of this parliament". This is exactly the same as Nick Clegg stating live on national television during an election debate "I will vote against any rise in tuition fees". The difference between Mr Salmond and Mr Clegg is that Mr Salmond is doing as politicians should do-he is keeping to the commitment upon which he is elected-in stark contrast Mr Clegg completely reneged on what he said to win votes and instead voted to treble tuition fees as his moral code is little more than 'the end justifies the means and if this means being entirely unprincipled and completely dishonest then that is what I will do'-his end was whatever is in own selfish interest which is power. Now, you will note that there is now a public consultation (as was always planned) as it is for the Scottish people to decide such matters and not self-interested politicians in a backroom in London. You are, like the rest of the population, fully entitled to submit your view to the consultation process. This is called representative democracy, it works rather well, and people like it when their politicians represent them as that is what politicians are supposed to do: serve the people. I note on watching television programmes yesterday evening that Labour still has a 'the people exist to serve us' attitude and have not yet learned that they as elected representatives are actually supposed to serve the people. I look forward to reading your submission to the consultation process.
Simonsaid
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 12:47 PMThat silly wee lassie Nicola Sturgeon insists on saying, over and over again, that “The SNP were elected on a basis of a commitment to have a referendum in the second half of this parliamentary term," She also says that the referendum is a decision for the Scottish government and the Scottish people.--------------------------Both the above statements are utter nonsense. Or put another way bare-faced lies. ------------ Prior to the 2011 election the SNP did not specify when in their term of office they would hold the referendum. Also, Sturgeon’s claim that when the referendum is held is a decision for the Scottish government and the Scottish people is derisory. Alex Salmond is determined that it is he who will make the decision for the Scottish people – which is not what she said. In other words the SNP are indulging in lies, damned lies and even more damned lies --------------------- The infantile idea that you can win a referendum based on holding it on the anniversary of a battle held 700 years ago is mind-bogglingly sickening. The fact that Salmond is intent on doing just that says a lot, not only for his mentality, but for that of his like-mindless supporters. As is his idea to reduce the voting age to sixteen, knowing that youngsters tend to be more prone to nationalistic twaddle than grow-ups. I wouldn’t put it past him to give five year olds the vote if he thought it would gain independence – WHAT AN AWFUL WEE MAN QUIT TRYIN TAE BAMBOOZLE AWBODY WI YER HIGHLAND FLING – GEEZE THE REFERENDUM NOO
Bruceboy
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11:06 AM"Cameron own goal". "Gleg the rabbit frozen in the headlights" and "Millebrand the NBG leader". What a team to tell Scotland we cannot run a fair referendum and to leave it to the rich boys with the superior education to arrange things
mordor
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 12:13 AMI was of course referring to 'Captain Fantastic' who obviously comes on here to talk nonsense in the hope that people will believe 'if scotland becomes independent then the big bad sea monster will swallow us up' but no doubt also claimed 'if scotland get devolution then the big bad sea monster will swallow us up' and also claimed 'if the snp win an election the big bad sea monster will swallow us up'. Nobody believes this sort of errant nonsense anymore. We got devolution-we did not die;we got an snp government-we did not die;if we get independence-we will not die....Get with the programme dude.
maisiedotts
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 12:12 AMSo Cowardly Cameron waits till his opponent is out of the country to spring this one eh? LOL What a stupendous own goal! Can't wait to see what else they propose while Alex is away ............
mordor
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 12:08 AM305, I think that you will find successor states are obliged (under international law) to abide by the treaties of the previous state hence Scotland and England,Wales,Northern Ireland(whatever it is called) do not have to negotiate to join the EU-they would have to, if they wanted to do such a thing, negotiate a way out. A first year international law student could tell you that never mind someone who is fully qualified. Please stop yattering what is to most of us quite obviously errant piffle that has no basis in reality and that you have simply made up in your head for political purposes.
Maurice the Dolphin
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 12:02 AM#315 - Wardoggie Newlands - Started your diet yet?
The Harder They Come
Monday, January 9, 2012 at 11:53 PM"my brother's company, an international investment bank..." ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, I'm crying laughing.
The Harder They Come
Monday, January 9, 2012 at 11:52 PMExcellent, Scottish Independence headlining on the BBC and a groundswell of anti-UK feeling around David Cameron's inappropriate bullying tactics, wait and watch Michael Whatshisname LIbbie demmii fella take a fall tomorrow when he tells us all how 'scottish' he is whilst wanting to subvert Scottish Democracy. You couldn't make these clowns up.
The Harder They Come
Monday, January 9, 2012 at 11:49 PMsorry, I just had to repeat this...."my brother's company, an international investment bank..." ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
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