Salmond closes in on referendum deal

Political Editor

Wednesday 5 September 2012

ALEX Salmond and the Scottish Government are closing in on a deal over the planned independence referendum after the SNP leader said he would conclude talks with David Cameron within weeks.

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Magnus Gardham Political Editor

The First Minister said he expected to meet the Prime Minister to sign off an agreement now being negotiated.

His remarks, which came as he outlined his legislative programme for the coming parliamentary year, were taken as a positive development in Whitehall, where sources spoke of a "growing optimism" about reaching a deal early next month.

The two administrations have been trying to agree a format for the poll since the start of the year.The UK Government has offered to hand Holyrood powers to make the referendum legally watertight in the face of a court challenge. But its insistence on a single Yes/No question has been resisted by the Nationalists, who want to keep alive the prospect of a two-question poll, including a devo max option on more powers for Holyrood.Mr Salmond's remarks will increase speculation he is ready to agree a single-question referendum in exchange for letting 16 and 17-year-olds vote.The First Minister told MSPs in a speech marking the new Holyrood term yesterday: "I expect to meet the Prime Minister in the next few weeks to conclude the discussions which our respective ministers have been having over the summer."His chief spin doctor added later: "There is a desire on both sides to get on with it."A Scotland Office source said: "We have felt growing optimism over the past 48 hours. The mood music has changed."The SNP's minister for strategy, Bruce Crawford, is due to meet Scotland Office minister David Mundell tomorrow to continue their talks. A meeting between Mr Salmond and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore is expected to follow later in the month. The First Minister and Prime Minister both have overseas trips planned for later in the month, leaving an early October get-together as the most likely arrangement.The Scottish Government is due to announce the result of its consultation on the referendum – which will give an indication of the level of support for a two-question poll – at the start of October.Mr Salmond announced that a Referendum Bill will be at the heart of his programme for government for the coming Holyrood year.An imminent deal would allow a so-called Section 30 Order, protecting the referendum against legal challenge, to be passed by both parliaments in time for the bill to be introduced early next year, keeping the timetable for an autumn 2014 vote on course.The announcement of the Referendum Bill, part of a package of 15 new pieces of legislation, was greeted with enthusiastic applause by SNP backbenchers.Other measures outlined included a Marriage and Civil Partnership Bill allowing same- sex couples to wed, and a Children and Young People Bill guaranteeing toddlers 600 hours per year of free nursery care.The First Minister made the fight for independence a dominant theme in his speech, linking the planned Referendum Bill with other aspects of the Government's work, which was aimed, he said, at creating economic growth and greater fairness for families.Hailing an "ambitious" programme, he added: "We are using our current powers to the full to help businesses and families. And we are committed to expanding this Parliament's powers so that we can take full responsibility for creating a wealthier and fairer nation."Citing the public places smoking ban and next year's minimum alcohol price legislation, Mr Salmond insisted his latest programme followed Holyrood's best traditions of "bold legislation which changed Scotland permanently and for the better".He said: "It will lead to the best childcare provision anywhere in the United Kingdom. It uses all of the powers that we have to support jobs, growth and opportunities for all."And it paves the way for Scotland's most important decision in the past 300 years. It is a historic package of measures."Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont dismissed the programme as "a wasted opportunity" and "totally lacking in ambition," adding: "It is radical only in Alex Salmond's desire to change his title from First Minister to Prime Minister".She added: "Alex Salmond is the first First Minister to have a majority and could re-shape Scotland for the better but instead seems to glory in his own perceived powerlessness. He has offered nothing to create jobs and help economic growth to counter the Tory cuts. Salmond fiddles while Osborne burns."Mr Moore welcomed the Referendum Bill, saying: "It is now imperative that we finalise the arrangements for the referendum as soon as possible." No campaign leader Alastair Darling said: "There is no reason to delay. It is time they got on with it and delivered what they promised. A simple question: Scotland in or out of the UK."

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Salmond closes in on referendum deal

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