Acrimony after meeting on future Scotland
Edinburgh – David Cameron opened the way for years of bitter wrangling over Scotland’s future after a tense meeting with Alex Salmond ended in recrimination yesterday.
The British prime minister went to Edinburgh to offer Scotland more powers if it voted to remain in the United Kingdom. But the talks with Scotland’s first minister about the shape of the referendum broke up sourly with Salmond demanding proper details of the offer and Cameron’s aides saying he had found the meeting frustrating.
Cameron promising Scots more devolution came amid warnings Britain’s nuclear deterrent would be put at risk if Scotland voted for independence. The cost of moving Britain’s four nuclear submarines from the Clyde, along with stockpiles of warheads and missiles, could be £2.5 billion (NZ$4.72B).
Admiral Lord West of Spithead, the former First Sea Lord, said the enormous logistical challenge would help those arguing that the £20b Trident renewal should not go ahead.
‘‘There must be a real possibility that it would be the final straw that breaks the camel’s back in keeping an independent deterrence,’’ he said.
Cameron will today win support from peers who will say a referendum should be confined to a yes/ no question on independence and not include a third alternative of more powers, so-called devo-max.
The House of Lords constitution committee will also report that all British voters should have a say on any proposals that have the potential to create different and competing tax regimes within the UK.
Cameron did not spell out yesterday what powers he may be willing to cede to Edinburgh if Scots had voted to remain in the UK. But his raising of the stakes was welcomed by Tory MPS, who argued that English voters would require a vote on Scotland’s place in the Union.
Bernard Jenkin said a rebalancing of the constitutional settlement between Scotland and England would have to follow a ‘‘no’’ vote. ‘‘We have to solve some of the grievances that the English feel,’’ he said. ‘‘In an ideal world both sides of the border would get a referendum to ratify that settlement.’’
After yesterday’s meeting, Salmond said it was up to the coalition to spell out what they were proposing. ‘‘Where’s the beef? If there is another option on the table, we need the detail. I do not think there is an appetite among the Scottish people for a false prospectus.’’
Cameron’s aides said the offer of a straight referendum on independence was clear, and accused Salmond of trying to cloud the issue.
The leaders failed to agree on what will appear on the ballot paper. Nor could they agree on whether 16 and 17-year-olds should be able to vote, as Salmond wishes, or on the date of the vote. Salmond is pressing for autumn 2014 while Cameron wants an earlier date.
Cameron laid out the ‘‘emotional and pragmatic’’ case for the Union. But he also used a speech in Edinburgh to hold out the prospect of the Scotland Bill, now going through Westminster, being overtaken by further devolution.
Said Salmond: ‘‘We’ve been through this before in Scottish politics. What’s the old saying, ‘Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me’?’’