Scottish independence: Devo-max option is no problem, says Pete Wishart

A LEADING SNP politician has declared he has “no problem” with a question on devo-max appearing on the ballot paper alongside independence in the 2014 referendum.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Aug 2012, 05:27 BST

Writing in the Scots Independent, Perth MP Pete Wishart said there was “no in-built  hostility” in the SNP towards an arrangement of maximum devolution within the UK. He said he would be content for  the devo-max option to be put forward, saying that the independence movement could then aim to persuade “devo-maxers” to take the “short  journey” towards the SNP’s  position.

His comments come after a panel of election experts, commissioned by the three pro-Union parties, said earlier this week that the question of how to reform the devolved settlement should be dealt with  separately to the issue of independence.

However, First Minister Alex Salmond is still weighing up whether to back its inclusion in the referendum.