Alex: ‘Once in a generation’ promise was an estimation

HE promised that the Scottish independence referendum would be a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity.

But yesterday Alex Salmond claimed his pledge was just an ‘estimation’.

The former First Minister has also insisted Scotland could be back at the polls within the next two years.

Last night, critics hit out at his change of heart and questioned how he or Nicola Sturgeon could be trusted if they can break such a ‘cast-iron commitment’.

During the referendum campaign Mr Salmond pledged that Scotland would only have to vote ‘once in a generation’ or possibly ‘even once in a lifetime’ on the subject of separation from the United Kingdom.

But he now says he believes a second independence referendum will be held in autumn 2018 – only four years after the decisive No vote in September 2014.

Mr Salmond argued he had used the Scottish devolution referen-parliament dums held in 1979 and 1997 to base his claims that the 2014 vote would be ‘once in a generation’ – but now says that recent political changes mean voters should be given the chance to go to the polls again.

He cited Brexit as the central reason that would allow Miss Sturgeon to trigger a second independence referendum, as well as Westminster and Holyrood election victories.

Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme yesterday, he said: ‘My estimation was that political constitutional referendums are once in a generation and I was making the example of 1979 and 1997 – that is why I always put it in that context every single time I said that.

‘But of course, things have changed. And why have they changed? Well since the referendum there has been 56 SNP MPs elected out of 59, the Scottish Government has been re-elected with more MSPs than all the Unionist parties put together in the Scottish Change of heart: Alex Salmond and specifically, of course, on a manifesto promise.’

That promise, he said, meant that if ‘there was to be a material change in circumstances then the Scottish parliament should have the right to hold a referendum’.

He added that ‘if the circumstances are that Scotland gets dragged out of the European Union against the will of the Scottish people, then the Scottish parliament should have the right to hold another referendum’.

But last night a Labour source said: ‘Trust is vital in politics. How can the public trust Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon if such a castiron commitment to the voters can now be simply dismissed as an “estimation?”’

Over the weekend, Mr Salmond predicted that with a referendum likely within two years, the SNP would be starting in a better place than in 2014. He added: ‘If the United Kingdom is determined to drag Scotland out of its position in Europe and its 1,000-year history as a European nation, than it’s likely that the independence argument will come to touch once again.’

Last night, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: ‘It is only two years since we had our say in the biggest political decision in Scotland’s history.

‘With all the challenges facing Scotland’s future, we shouldn’t return to the arguments of the past but should get on with using the new powers of our Scottish parliament.’

Comment – Page 14

‘How can the public trust him?’