Tories eye snap poll on Scottish independence by Jason Alladyce
David Cameron’s minister for Scotland has signalled that the coalition may hold a snap referendum on the break up of Britain to wrong foot the Scottish National party’s plans for independence.
David Mundell, the Conservative Scottish Office minister, said it would be legitimate for Westminster to intervene in the constitutional debate and put the question of separation to Scottish voters unless Alex Salmond, the SNP leader, moves quickly.
Senior Tories, including Murdo Fraser, deputy Conservative leader in the Scottish parliament, and Lord Forsythe, a former Scottish Secretary at Westminster favour an early vote, believing the SNP would lose. Polls show that only one in three Scots favours secession.
While Salmond won an overall majority in Thursday’s devolved elections, his allies accept that the Scottish first minister may need at least two years to build the case for independence.
Salmond has signalled that he intends to wait until at least 2015, claiming this would give him time to focus first on strengthening the Scotland Bill currently passing through Westminster. This will enlarge the powers of the Edinburgh parliament.
Cameron made it clear in a telephone call with Salmond on Friday evening that he would not block a referendum called by the Scottish parliament, despite doubts about whether it has the legal authority to hold one.
Constitutional matters are a reserved issue for Westminster, however, and Cameron has the power to put independence to a public vote if he believes that delays by Salmond are causing uncertainty and undermining the economy.
Asked whether Westminster might impose a referendum, Mundell said: “Obviously Westminster has a direct interest in this matter and could always get involved.”
He added: “The first part of that debate has to take place in the Scottish parliament. I think the argument about the Westminster government becoming involved is one only to have after it is clear that no progress has been made in the Scottish parliament.”
The issue seems to have split the coalition with Michael Moore, Liberal Democrat Scottish secretary, saying a referendum was a matter entirely for the Scottish parliament.
To boost the chances of a yes vote some SNP activists are pressing for the referendum to be held in 2014 on the 700th anniversary of the battle of Bannockburn, which helped to secure Scotland’s independence from England. The battle is the inspiration for Flower of Scotland, the unofficial national anthem sung at international events.
Cameron, who has pledged to fight ”with every single fibre” to save the union, hopes that agreeing to give the Scottish parliament a series of extra powers will dampen support for separation.
The Scotland Bill will give the parliament the ability to raise or cut income tax by 10p in the pound, at least £2 billion of borrowing powers and control over drink-drive limits, air guns and speed limits.
Cameron has also sanctioned LibDem plans that could put Scottish crofters in competition with the royal family for funding. Coastal villages are to receive windfalls from green energy schemes on land owned by the Crown Estate. The government is scrapping the civil list and will give the Queen and her family a slice of Crown Estate profits, but the deal for villages could mean less will be left for the royals.
