Scottish independence: David Cameron should ‘level’ with Scots, Alex Salmond says

Published on 17/02/2012 15:45

PRIME Minister David Cameron should “level” with Scots and answer key questions about what would happen if they rejected independence, Alex Salmond argued today.

The First Minister was speaking in St Andrews, Fife.

He asked for more detail 24 hours after Mr Cameron set out his defence of the UK in Edinburgh.

Mr Cameron, while urging voters to say “no” in the referendum in 2014, held out the prospect of enhanced devolution - but offered no details about what those powers could be.

Mr Salmond, who has already complained that Scots have been “fooled” by Conservatives before, said the UK Government could start by making changes to the current Scotland Bill, which aims to transfer some tax and financial responsibility to Holyrood.

The First Minister said: “It is possible, because times change, that David Cameron’s offer to Scotland is a genuine one.

“But at the very least it raises three major questions.

“If the offer is genuine, will the final version of the Scotland Bill contain provisions for further economic powers that have been asked for by the Scottish Parliament over these last nine months?

“Secondly, if the offer is genuine, why does the Scotland Bill contain proposals to transfer some powers back to Westminster?

“And thirdly, if the Prime Minister’s offer is genuine, will he set out the full proposals by the end of the Scottish Government’s referendum consultation in May, so the Scottish Government - and far more importantly, the Scottish people - can develop an informed view about what might be on offer?”

Mr Salmond, addressing the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities conference, said he accepts he must set out the “detailed prospectus” for independence.

But he added: “The Prime Minister can’t get away with anything less. It’s time to level with the people of Scotland.”