Russell admits secession poll lacks support

SCOTLAND'S new 'Minister for Independence' has admitted he does not know how the SNP will get enough support to get the Referendum Bill through Holyrood.

Major cracks appeared in the SNP's most important policy when Mike Russell acknowledged the struggle he faces to win MSPs' backing for a 2010 referendum – the vote that lies at the heart of the SNP's desire for an independent Scotland.

In an interview with Scotland on Sunday, the Culture, External Affairs and Constitution Minister announced he would be stepping up the SNP's drive for constitutional change by setting out the economic arguments for independence over the coming months.

But Russell appeared to concede that a referendum bill could fall at the first hurdle: "The bill would require a majority; where that majority came from it is far too early to say."

The SNP's opponents have argued that constitutional wrangling would create more instability during a time of economic crisis.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are against a referendum. Under Wendy Alexander, Labour said the SNP should "bring it on", but the position of the party under new leader Iain Gray is that the "referendum ship has sailed".

Murdo Fraser, deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, said: "This is the first crack in the wall. The Nationalists know that the referendum is not going to happen. They should drop it now."

Tavish Scott, the Lib Dem leader, said: "If the minister has no idea where he'll get parliamentary support, then using the SNP's previous rules, they should dump plans for a referendum."