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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Alexander makes referendum threat | Alexander makes referendum threat |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander may bring forward a parliamentary bill for a public vote on independence. | Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander may bring forward a parliamentary bill for a public vote on independence. |
| She made the threat as she called on the Scottish Government to speed up its plans for a 2010 referendum. | She made the threat as she called on the Scottish Government to speed up its plans for a 2010 referendum. |
| Unionist parties attacked Ms Alexander's stance, while Downing Street distanced itself from the plans. | Unionist parties attacked Ms Alexander's stance, while Downing Street distanced itself from the plans. |
| Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the SNP would not be hurried into changing its timetable for the planned referendum bill. | Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the SNP would not be hurried into changing its timetable for the planned referendum bill. |
| But Ms Alexander said this would only cause uncertainty, as she gave her support to a straight yes/no vote. | But Ms Alexander said this would only cause uncertainty, as she gave her support to a straight yes/no vote. |
| She said: "We're in a crazy position where the deputy first minister said she believed there was a majority for independence in the country but apparently she wants to be a unionist for the next three years. | She said: "We're in a crazy position where the deputy first minister said she believed there was a majority for independence in the country but apparently she wants to be a unionist for the next three years. |
| Wendy Alexander's behaviour is erratic in the extreme Nicola SturgeonDeputy first minister of Scotland | Wendy Alexander's behaviour is erratic in the extreme Nicola SturgeonDeputy first minister of Scotland |
| "I personally think that's absurd. If she's convinced she's got a majority, we shouldn't leave it to the fag end of a parliament to get around to testing public opinion." | "I personally think that's absurd. If she's convinced she's got a majority, we shouldn't leave it to the fag end of a parliament to get around to testing public opinion." |
| When asked during a news conference if she had plans to bring forward her own referendum bill, Ms Alexander replied: "That is certainly one of the options that would be available to us." | When asked during a news conference if she had plans to bring forward her own referendum bill, Ms Alexander replied: "That is certainly one of the options that would be available to us." |
| At Westminster, where Labour MPs were preparing to discuss the issue, there was growing anger at Ms Alexander's call for a referendum. | At Westminster, where Labour MPs were preparing to discuss the issue, there was growing anger at Ms Alexander's call for a referendum. |
| A senior Labour source accused her of trying to ''bounce'' Prime Minister Gordon Brown into supporting a vote on the issue and added that it was a huge tactical error to make such a call when Mr Brown was under pressure following bad local election results in England. | A senior Labour source accused her of trying to ''bounce'' Prime Minister Gordon Brown into supporting a vote on the issue and added that it was a huge tactical error to make such a call when Mr Brown was under pressure following bad local election results in England. |
| The Prime Minister's spokesman, when asked repeatedly whether he supported Ms Alexander's stance, said: "The position taken by the Labour Party leader [Wendy Alexander] is a matter for her." | |
| 'Reckless gamble' | |
| The spokesman said Mr Brown was confident in the strength of the argument and that any calls for independence would be defeated. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Labour leader's comments were a "panic reaction" by a party which was plummeting at the polls. | Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Labour leader's comments were a "panic reaction" by a party which was plummeting at the polls. |
| The deputy first minister told BBC Radio Scotland: "Wendy Alexander's behaviour is erratic in the extreme. | |
| "It's only a few weeks ago she said she was implacably opposed to a referendum, she's just set up a constitutional commission that expressly excludes the option of independence. | "It's only a few weeks ago she said she was implacably opposed to a referendum, she's just set up a constitutional commission that expressly excludes the option of independence. |
| "So, who knows what her position will be this time next week, let alone in six months time." | "So, who knows what her position will be this time next week, let alone in six months time." |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen said Ms Alexander's move was an astonishing u-turn, given her key role in setting up the independent Calman Commission on the future of devolution. | |
| "I don't think anybody knows what Labour stands for anymore," he said. | |
| Annabel Goldie, the Scottish Tory leader, branded the move a "reckless political gamble", adding: ""I am a staunch supporter of devolution and refuse to play fast and loose with our future." | |
| Responding to the criticism, Ms Alexander said: "I certainly hope that other opposition parties will reflect on the fact as to whether it is in Scotland's interests to vote down the right of the people in Scotland to choose on this issue." |