Scottish independence: Transition talks needed, warns Nicola Sturgeon

By TOM PETERKIN
Published on 15/01/2013 13:27

NICOLA Sturgeon has warned that the UK government will be blamed for uncertainty in the independence debate if it fails to discuss the transition to independence.

In the first of a series of blogs on independence published yesterday, the Deputy First Minister revealed that all parts of the Scottish Government are to work on a “transition plan”, which will look at administration, legislation and matters of negotiation.

The news came after the Scottish Secretary, Michael Moore, said the UK government would not enter discussions with Alex Salmond’s administration on the terms of independence before the 2014 referendum.

Ms Sturgeon said having talks on independence before the poll was “common sense”, and that she had written to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg suggesting they should be held.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I am not suggesting that we should ‘pre-negotiate’ the independence settlement. But … we must do the groundwork now to ensure that, in the event of a Yes vote, both governments are in a position to work together constructively in the best interests of the people of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.”

But Patricia Ferguson, Labour’s constitution spokeswoman, said: “The greatest uncertainty is caused by the fact that so many statements made with total certainty by Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon turn out to be totally untrue.”