Nick Clegg echoes PM’s message on Holyrood’s powers

The audience for his keynote speech to the Scottish Liberal Democrat spring conference in Inverness yesterday was swelled by dozens of local modern studies pupils from nearby schools, adding to the 300 delegates present.

Mr Clegg insisted in his speech that Scotland and the rest of the UK shared a “culture, history and identity” which were greater than the forces “that would tear us apart”.

Scottish Secretary and fellow Lib Dem Michael Moore will today step up pressure on the SNP to set a 500-day deadline for the referendum.

As well as the constitution, Mr Clegg defended his party’s role in government as part of the coalition and insisted it could recover north of the Border, after the disastrous result in the Holyrood elections last year.

The Scotland Bill, which will hand sweeping new powers over tax-raising to the Scottish Parliament, showed that devolving power was “in the party’s DNA”, Mr Clegg said. “But don’t think we’re stopping there,” he said. “That’s why we have set up the Home Rule Commission to look at the next stage in the relationship between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

“And who better to lead that process than Ming Campbell, a statesman who commands such huge respect on both sides of the Border.

“We need to settle the independence question first. But if the Scottish people decide they want to remain in the United Kingdom, then we can get on with the business of giving Scotland more power.”

It follows a similar offer by Prime Minister David Cameron on a visit to Scotland last month.

The Deputy Prime Minister insisted yesterday that cultural links were at the heart of the UK, with Scots and other British people “living side by side in towns and cities across the British Isles”.

He went on: “Scottish, English, Welsh and Northern Irish people are together every day in offices and factories, school classrooms and playing fields.

“We have rallied together in hard times – our forefathers fought together and died together.”

First Minister Alex Salmond has said he will be holding the referendum in autumn 2014, but Mr Moore will say in his speech that it could be held a year earlier.

He will tell Lib Dem activists that Scotland should be allowed to decide its future 500 days after the independence consultations close, as opposed to the 1,000-day period announced by the SNP at its consultation launch.

“What I find frustrating is the Nationalists’ determination to go slow,” the Scottish Secretary will say. “If Mr Salmond has confidence in his plans – if he really believes that Scotland will vote to leave the UK family – why does he drag his heels?

“In January, the SNP said Scots should wait nearly three years to determine their future. But we don’t need 1,000 days to decide this crucial question.

“We can get this done in the 500 days that follow the consultations. In 500 days, you can plan the poll, pass the law and hold the ballot.

“That is enough time for the Scottish people to hear the arguments, consider the evidence and express their view.

“Over the past few days, some of Scotland’s biggest employers have come out to highlight the impact of uncertainty and delay. SSE, the Weir Group, Scottish Engineering: every one of them has made the point that the uncertainty caused by a stalled referendum will impact on business decisions. And business decisions impact on employment in Scotland.

“Delay today kills jobs tomorrow. So, I say to the SNP: quit stalling.”