Cameron discusses Scottish independence issue with First Minister
British Prime Minister David Cameron today said he had made little progress in talks with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond over a referendum on independence.
Speaking shortly after the face-to-face talks in Edinburgh, Mr Cameron said his “absolute priority” was to preserve the United Kingdom.
He said that voters in Scotland should be presented as soon as possible with a “simple, straightforward and legal” question over whether they want to remain in the UK or not.
And he held out the prospect of further talks on increased devolution of powers if Scotland votes to remain in the Union.
Mr Cameron described his discussions with Mr Salmond as “constructive”, but told the BBC: “On the issue of independence, separating Scotland, leaving the United Kingdom, I am afraid there wasn’t much progress.
“I believe that we need to put a straightforward and simple and legal question to the Scottish people in good time, which is to ask the straightforward question ’Do you want to stay in the United Kingdom...’ – and I hope that is what people will vote for – ’... or do you want to leave the United Kingdom?”’
Earlier, Mr Cameron used a speech in Edinburgh to set out his defence of more than 300 years of political union between Scotland and England.
And he promised to consider more powers for Scotland if voters reject independence in a referendum.
The referendum result would not be “the end of the road”, said Mr Cameron.
“When the referendum on independence is over, I am open to looking at how the devolved settlement can be improved further.
“And, yes, that does mean considering what further powers could be devolved.
“But that must be a question for after the referendum, when Scotland has made its choice about the fundamental question of independence or for the United Kingdom, when Scotland has settled this question once and for all – and ended the uncertainty that could damage and hold back Scotland’s prospects and potential.”
Mr Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), wants to hold an independence referendum in 2014, and has suggested allowing a second question on to the ballot paper specifically on greater devolved powers.
However, his critics have called this a fall-back in the event of a No vote, and say that it could muddy the waters.
