No camp ‘falling apart at seams’

Salmond insisted none of the packages from the pro-union parties go far enough to give Holyrood the power it needs - and only independence offers real change. Picture: TSPL

The First Minister insisted none of the packages from the three pro-union parties go far enough to give Holyrood the power it needs - and only independence offers real change.

It comes as polls suggest that the Yes and No campaigns are neck and neck in the race for Scotland’s future. Labour leader Johann Lamont, Conservative Ruth Davidson and Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie staged a joint press conference to pledge a timetable on powers, guaranteeing new legislation by next January.

Mr Salmond joined Yes supporters in the centre of Edinburgh today and rejected the proposals.

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“This is the day that the No campaign finally disintegrated and fell apart at the seams,” Mr Salmond said.

“These are people who were 48 hours ago saying there was to be more on offer to Scotland - that’s what George Osborne said.

“Now we find out it was a recycling of the same package that was offered in three different ways in the Spring and has been judged by the Scottish people to be totally inadequate.

“So recycling which has already got a substantial thumbs down from the people tells us nothing but that the No campaign is in a total state of disintegration and total panic.

“I doubt I’ve ever seen any political campaign in any election never mind a referendum which has fallen apart at the seams in such spectacular fashion.”

The more powers option being promoted by the main pro-union parties today was presented as “devo max” which polling suggests is the most popular option among Scots. But the Coalition Government ruled out having the option of more powers on the referendum ballot paper.

Mr Salmond Labour’s plans amounted to about 20% of taxation being handed to Holyrood, while the Liberal Democrat proposals would mean about 30%.

The First Minister added: “It wouldn’t give us the powers to create jobs, it wouldn’t give us the powers to protect properly the public health service and it wouldn’t give us the powers to re-energise the economy and bring fairness to Scottish society - all the things we can take into our own hands by voting Yes next week.”

No camp ‘falling apart at seams’ - Alex Salmond