SNP ‘playing cat-and-mouse game over independence’

In a fresh attack on the SNP at the Liberal Democrats’ UK conference, the Deputy Prime Minister said the Nationalists were playing a “cat and mouse game” with the Scottish people, which could cause “serious damage” to the economy north of the Border.

Speaking in a BBC interview, Mr Clegg challenged the First Minister to answer the difficult questions on independence, which he described as the SNP leader’s “sole obsession”.

“I think the answer to the disruption, economic costs, of tearing up the Union like that, and pulling Scotland out into isolation, would be really bad for many Scottish families and many Scottish workers,” Mr Clegg said.

“I think the more, frankly, that the details are looked at and the less that Alex Salmond is able to provide any answers to any questions about what it means for Scottish people, the more people will actually decide this isn’t really something they want.”

On the failure by SNP ministers to respond to questions on an independent Scotland’s currency and defence, he said: “I certainly think we need to hear some answers from Alex Salmond. He constantly plays a sort of cat and mouse with the Scottish people – there may be a referendum, there may be a question here, a question there.”

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested the SNP had shown a lack of courage after winning a majority mandate in the Holyrood elections in May.

He said: “I think he [Alex Salmond] should have the courage of his convictions, come out and say he believes in total independence, that’s what is on offer, a Yes or No referendum, and then let’s really ask Alex Salmond the tough questions about what it means for jobs, for investment, for business, for keeping people in work, for pensions, for the long-term prosperity and sustainability of the Scottish economy.

“I think the more we get into the details – which is the reason Alex Salmond doesn’t want to – the more actually people will realise he is running a terrible, terrible risk with people’s everyday lives in Scotland.

Mr Clegg added: “I think he should have the courage of his convictions. He keeps teasing everyone with this. I certainly think that this grinding uncertainty is bad for investment in Scotland, bad for long-term jobs.”

His attack is the latest move in an aggressive strategy to counter the threat of Scottish independence being pursued by the coalition government and led by senior Liberal Democrats.

The opening salvo came earlier this week from Chief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander – the MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey – who compared the SNP to hardline, right-wing Eurosceptics, describing both as “the enemies of growth”. This was followed a swipe at the Nationalists from Business Secretary Vince Cable, a former Glasgow councillor, who mocked the SNP for “queuing up to pay homage” to Rupert Murdoch.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems have unveiled a new commission to look at the question of Scottish “home rule” – which is the devolution of more powers but stopping short of full independence.

Lib Dem Scottish Secretary Michael Moore told The Scotsman he was to hold meetings with all his Cabinet colleagues to outline how their departments benefit Scotland.

He is expected to continue to put pressure on the SNP in his speech today, in which he will accuse them of not answering tough questions on independence.

Mr Clegg has refused to rule out the idea of Westminster running an independence referendum, although the UK government has made it clear that it should fall to Holyrood.

He said: “I think this grinding uncertainly is bad for investment in Scotland, bad for long-term jobs. I hear this from Scottish business groups. I think it is a monumental distraction form what I think is the most important task, which is repairing the damage done to our economy and creating jobs for our young people. For some reason, Alex Salmond wants to abandon that for this flight of fancy which only he really cares about.”

However, the SNP hit back, mocking the Lib Dems, whose number of MSPs dropped from 16 to five in May’s elections.

A spokesman for Mr Salmond: said: “The Lib Dems are crumbling under pressure and have only succeeded in making themselves look ridiculous.

“On the one hand, they oppose the Scottish Government’s call for financial powers like corporation tax being transferred to Scotland to support our economy and create jobs, but at the same time, Mr Moore and his colleagues are talking about setting up a commission to deliver full financial independence.”

He accused the Lib Dems of “extraordinary muddled thinking” and of acting as the “Tories’ front men in Scotland”.

The spokesman added: “The key question for the Lib Dems is whether they support the right of the people to choose Scotland’s future in a referendum?”