SCOTLAND’S VOTERS should have a referendum next year to decide whether to opt for full-blown independence, or to secure increased devolution from London, Scottish first minister Alex Salmond has declared.
In the long-awaited White Paper, the Scottish National Party leader favours independence, but acknowledges that other lesser options may have to be included to get support for the referendum to be held at all. The SNP has 47 of the 129 seats in the Scottish parliament and requires the support of the pro-independence Green Party and 16 others to secure a majority for the calling of the poll.
However, Mr Salmond’s ambitions appear doomed to fail following the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ decision recently to accept their local leader Tavish Scott’s recommendations to oppose an independence referendum.
“I ask every Scot to pause and reflect, not just on what kind of country we are but on the kind of country we could be, the kind of country we should be. I am committed to a new chapter in Scottish politics, one in which the story and the script is written by the people and not just by the politicians,” Mr Salmond declared as he launched the White Paper, which has been prepared after two years of public consultation.
Four options are outlined in yesterday’s document: the status quo; the devolution of limited further powers from Westminster; the devolution of everything bar foreign affairs and defence; and full independence.
Independence “would complete the responsibilities of the Scottish parliament”, he said, adding pensions and benefits would continue to be paid at the same rate as now.
Under full devolution – the option that falls just short of independence and which has been titled “Devolution Max” by the SNP – Scotland would control inheritance and corporation taxes, but income tax rates would continue to set in London. Scotland would make a payment to Westminster to cover foreign affairs and defence costs “but the range of services to be paid for in this way would be subject to negotiation”.
Outlining the detail of the four options available, the White Paper argues devolution would be better than the current arrangement; full devolution would be better still; while independence would be the best of all. Despite the SNP’s preference for a straight choice on independence, or not, the White Paper conceded that a “multi-option” question might have “some democratic advantage”, and win support from other parties. However, the document does not include a proposed text for such a “multi-option” referendum question – which, if put in such a fashion, would simply cause confusion among Scots, Scottish Labour deputy leader Johann Lamont declared.
The British government last week responded to the findings of the Calman commission, which examined the performance of Scottish devolution a decade after it was first granted in 1999. Under Calman, Westminster would cut the UK income tax by 10p in the pound in Scotland, and grant authority to the Scottish parliament to impose an equivalent amount, or even more, if it wished.
Scottish secretary of state Mr Jim Murphy said: “Since the first day of devolution, the Scottish government has been accountable for how it spends taxpayers’ money. Under , they will also be held to account for how they raise it.”
However, he made clear that the measures would not be put in place until after the general election, while Conservative party leader David Cameron has made it clear he would not be bound by the Calman proposals.
Responding to the Salmond move, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said the referendum idea should be dropped while Scotland fights the recession: “We should not be distracting ourselves with a referendum.”