ALEX Salmond has called for tight spending limits on the independence referendum campaign to prevent it being "bought and sold for English gold".

The First Minister used an interview on US radio to send a message to the UK Government, which is understood to favour a higher spending threshold in the run-up to the 2014 vote.

Speaking to Chicago's WBEZ, he said: "It's rather important to have limits on campaign spending and that applies to elections and referendums."

The Scottish Government has proposed a £750,000 spending limit for two main "designated organisations".