DAVID Cameron believes the SNP will not call a second Scottish independence referendum and that "Scotland-lite will be enough”, according to a former senior MP.
David Burnside revealed the Prime Minister had confirmed during a private meeting with his cross-party Constitution Reform Group (CRG) that the appetite for Scottish independence would “settle down” and the SNP would not push for a second ballot.
The CRG, made up of peers and MPs, believes that there is a “window of opportunity” to convince the PM of their case for a new Act of Union to halt Scottish independence and create a federal United Kingdom.
Mr Burnside, a former Northern Irish MP and MLA, a believes creating a new Act is the last chance to save the 300-year-old Union because of the danger that Nicola Sturgeon, riding a wave of popularity, will call a second independence poll within the next few years.
The Herald was told that at the meeting in the Cabinet Office with leading CRG members, the Marquess of Salisbury, the former Tory leader of the Lords, senior Labour backbencher Gisela Stuart and Mr Burnside, Mr Cameron said he did “not think the SNP would go for another referendum”.
When asked, Mr Burnside said: “He thought it was settling down. He has other things on his mind at the moment…David Cameron is a Unionist but thinks, when we get Europe out of the way, Scotland will settle down; Scotland-lite will be enough. That is what the Scotland Office view is…”
In response, a No 10 spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister has made clear before his view on a second referendum; that less than two years ago the people of Scotland voted clearly and decisively to remain part of the United Kingdom and that democratic decision should be respected.
“By getting on with the devolution that this Government committed to, Holyrood is now one of the most powerful devolved administrations in the world.”
Read more: Second referendum only if MOST Scots want it, Sturgeon confirms
Since the 2014 poll, the PM has rejected talk of another independence referendum, citing back the words of the First Minister and her predecessor Alex Salmond that the vote of 18 months ago should settle the matter for a “political generation”.
But within the context of the EU referendum and the possibility of a second independence poll if Scotland voted to stay within the Brussels bloc while the rest of the UK voted to leave, Mr Cameron’s language has changed.
In February, his spokeswoman was asked if the PM believed those campaigning for Britain to leave the EU fully appreciated that one of the consequences of Brexit could be a second Scottish independence referendum. She replied: "There are many serious implications for the UK leaving the EU; no-one knows the extent of them. That's what those who are advocating Leave need to weigh up carefully and answer."
Last month on the campaign trail, Mr Cameron warned that a vote to leave the EU could increase the chances of Scottish independence.
Admitting the issue was a "concern," he said: "It is quite clear there are politicians in Scotland saying that a referendum to leave the EU could put that under question again.
"So I would say if, like me, you care about keeping our United Kingdom together, that is yet another reason to vote for staying in a reformed EU, rather than having uncertainty and instability in the relationships inside the United Kingdom."
Read more: SNP manifesto will not contain commitment to second independence referendum
Earlier this week, Ms Sturgeon stressed that it would be a "democratic outrage" if Scotland were dragged out of Europe against its will and said, in those circumstances, there would be overwhelming demand for a fresh referendum. In such circumstances, the First Minister said it was "very highly likely" she would call a second independence poll.
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