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Cameron Hints At Early Scottish Referendum
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Cameron Hints At Early Scottish Referendum
bb1 Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:36 pm
http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16145034
The Scottish people deserve a "fair, clear and decisive question" on independence, the Prime Minister tells Sky News in an exclusive interview.
David Cameron told political editor Adam Boulton: "I want the UK to stay together it's a fantastically successful partnership, I think Scotland and England are better off together in the UK.
"But we can't stand in the way of a part of the UK if it wants to ask the question 'are we better off outside it?'
:: Watch the full interview with David Cameron in full
"We can't stand in the way of that, but what I think what the Scottish people deserve is a fair, clear and decisive question," he added.
The Scottish National Party has pledged to conduct a referendum in the latter half of its term, which ends in 2016, with 2014 thought to be the preferred date.
But Mr Cameron suggested he may force an early vote on independence - with some commentators saying perhaps he believes this will mean it is more likely to be defeated.
"First of all we have to have the legal clarity of who is responsible for this issue because that needs to be resolved - is it the Westminster Parliament or the Scottish Parliament and we'll be setting out the legal position and trying to find a way through and resolving that issue.
"I think there is a broader issue if [Scottish First Minister] Alex Salmond wants a referendum on independence why do we wait until 2014?
A long delay is "very damaging for Scotland" because businesses want to know if the UK will remain together.
"So I think it is at least rational to put to the Scottish people would it be better to have a more fair and decisive question put earlier," he added.
Downing Street is set to announce that without the backing of Westminster, any referendum result would only have advisory status.
Conditions could include allowing only a choice between leaving or staying in the UK, preventing any option for greater devolved powers.
Mr Cameron, who is strongly opposed to a Scottish breakaway, said "uncertainty" over the timing of a vote was damaging the economy north of the border and in the rest of the UK.
The Prime Minister, who also discussed the issue with at Cabinet, has accused the SNP of holding off in the hope of building support for independence which it knew "at heart" Scottish voters did not want.
Responding to earlier remarks by Mr Cameron, a spokesman for Mr Salmond said his administration had an "overwhelming mandate" from voters for a referendum in the second half of this parliamentary term - a promise the SNP made in elections that swept it to power last May.
"Westminster politicians should just let the people and parliament of Scotland deliver the referendum in the timescale set out in the election," he said.
Echoing these statements, deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged all Westminster parties not to meddle.
"This is about giving the Westminster government cover to interfere in a decision that is one for Scotland," she told BBC Radio Scotland.
She added: "This is about them trying to muscle in - trying to interfere."
SNP MP Angus MacNeil wrote on Twitter: "Butt out, Cameron," and accused him of having no mandate in response to the Prime Minister's interview with Sky News.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Ministers would set out their position to Parliament "in the coming days".
"Ultimately, any decision on Scotland's future is for the people in Scotland to decide," he added.
=========================
More sheer genius from Cameron - he does the one thing which is GUARANTEED to annoy Scots voters. He tries to dictate terms to the semi-detached bit of the UK where he has one single, solitary MP
The Scottish people deserve a "fair, clear and decisive question" on independence, the Prime Minister tells Sky News in an exclusive interview.
David Cameron told political editor Adam Boulton: "I want the UK to stay together it's a fantastically successful partnership, I think Scotland and England are better off together in the UK.
"But we can't stand in the way of a part of the UK if it wants to ask the question 'are we better off outside it?'
:: Watch the full interview with David Cameron in full
"We can't stand in the way of that, but what I think what the Scottish people deserve is a fair, clear and decisive question," he added.
The Scottish National Party has pledged to conduct a referendum in the latter half of its term, which ends in 2016, with 2014 thought to be the preferred date.
But Mr Cameron suggested he may force an early vote on independence - with some commentators saying perhaps he believes this will mean it is more likely to be defeated.
"First of all we have to have the legal clarity of who is responsible for this issue because that needs to be resolved - is it the Westminster Parliament or the Scottish Parliament and we'll be setting out the legal position and trying to find a way through and resolving that issue.
"I think there is a broader issue if [Scottish First Minister] Alex Salmond wants a referendum on independence why do we wait until 2014?
A long delay is "very damaging for Scotland" because businesses want to know if the UK will remain together.
"So I think it is at least rational to put to the Scottish people would it be better to have a more fair and decisive question put earlier," he added.
Downing Street is set to announce that without the backing of Westminster, any referendum result would only have advisory status.
Conditions could include allowing only a choice between leaving or staying in the UK, preventing any option for greater devolved powers.
Mr Cameron, who is strongly opposed to a Scottish breakaway, said "uncertainty" over the timing of a vote was damaging the economy north of the border and in the rest of the UK.
The Prime Minister, who also discussed the issue with at Cabinet, has accused the SNP of holding off in the hope of building support for independence which it knew "at heart" Scottish voters did not want.
Responding to earlier remarks by Mr Cameron, a spokesman for Mr Salmond said his administration had an "overwhelming mandate" from voters for a referendum in the second half of this parliamentary term - a promise the SNP made in elections that swept it to power last May.
"Westminster politicians should just let the people and parliament of Scotland deliver the referendum in the timescale set out in the election," he said.
Echoing these statements, deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged all Westminster parties not to meddle.
"This is about giving the Westminster government cover to interfere in a decision that is one for Scotland," she told BBC Radio Scotland.
She added: "This is about them trying to muscle in - trying to interfere."
SNP MP Angus MacNeil wrote on Twitter: "Butt out, Cameron," and accused him of having no mandate in response to the Prime Minister's interview with Sky News.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Ministers would set out their position to Parliament "in the coming days".
"Ultimately, any decision on Scotland's future is for the people in Scotland to decide," he added.
=========================
More sheer genius from Cameron - he does the one thing which is GUARANTEED to annoy Scots voters. He tries to dictate terms to the semi-detached bit of the UK where he has one single, solitary MP
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Re: Cameron Hints At Early Scottish Referendum
rhodes Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:01 am
when they say independence does that mean Scotland would be fully funded by collecting taxes from their population and not receiving anything financially from Westminster?
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Re: Cameron Hints At Early Scottish Referendum
bb1 Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:30 pm
Full fiscal independence, Rhodes, no more money going back and forth.
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Re: Cameron Hints At Early Scottish Referendum
bb1 Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:15 pm
Current hot joke on the subject...
Cameron should keep his nose out, there are more pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs.
Cameron should keep his nose out, there are more pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs.
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Re: Cameron Hints At Early Scottish Referendum
Sabot Tue Jan 10, 2012 4:56 pm
If Scotland leaves The Union I might go and live there. If I can afford to buy a house.
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Re: Cameron Hints At Early Scottish Referendum
Pedro Silva Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:44 pm
Let´s wait for the results of the referendum.
Pedro Silva- Slayer of scums
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Re: Cameron Hints At Early Scottish Referendum
bb1 Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:46 pm
Indeed, Pedro, interesting times ahead.
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