Alex Salmond under fire for ‘stalling’ over independence referendum

ALEX Salmond has been accused of “testing Scotland’s patience to breaking point” over his independence referendum plans after a new opinion poll revealed that the overwhelming majority of Scots want the vote on the proposed split from the UK within the next two years.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said that Mr Salmond was “stalling” by insisting that the referendum was held in the second half of the five-year parliamentary term at Holyrood.

The UK cabinet minister’s strongly worded comments came as a new Ipsos Mori survey showed that 28 per cent of Scots interviewed want the referendum to be held as soon as possible, with a further 33 per cent wanting it within two years.

However, the poll of more than 1,000 Scots showed that 38 per cent backed independence, which Mr Salmond seized on as “extremely positive” for his flagship policy of a separate Scotland.

The SNP leader also rejected demands from opposition parties to bring forward the referendum, insisting that voters in May’s election had handed his party an “overwhelming mandate” to stage the vote in the “second half of this parliament”.

But Mr Moore issued a stark warning that Scotland faced up to four years’ “distraction and delay” in the run-up to the referendum, as he said that the SNP was “testing Scotland’s patience to breaking point”.

Mr Moore said that the poll’s results showed that “less than a third” or 30 per cent of Scottish voters backed Mr Salmond’s timing for the referendum.

He said: “This poll shows the vast majority of people in Scotland want to end the uncertainty with an earlier vote on independence. Are we really expected to endure three or four more years of distraction and delay when every other country in Europe is focusing on the economy and jobs?

“Instead of stalling, the Scottish Government should respond to this clear demand, bring forward their proposals and name the day.”

Mr Salmond seized on the poll results, which showed backing for independence at 38 per cent, 57 per cent against and 5 per unsure, to claim that support for a Scottish split with the UK was increasing.

He said: “This is an extremely positive poll, showing that support for independence has increased by 16 points in the past year.

“The people of Scotland are light years ahead of the Westminster parties and the inadequate provisions of the Scotland Bill – they want real economic and financial powers for the Scottish Parliament, so that we can strengthen recovery and boost employment.”

The First Minister also welcomed a finding from the poll that showed 68 per cent backing for “devo-max” or full economic powers for the Scottish Parliament, up one point from August. There were 28 per cent against devo max, with four per cent unsure.

Mr Salmond said: “The SNP Government have always said that we are willing to have a ‘devo-max’ option in the referendum.”