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Brown quizzed on referendum call Alexander stands firm in vote row
(about 5 hours later)
Gordon Brown has failed to explicitly support Wendy Alexander's call for a referendum on Scottish independence. Wendy Alexander has said she will not quit as Scottish Labour Leader over her call for an early referendum on Scottish independence.
The Scottish Labour leader had urged the SNP to act now in order to end uncertainty over the country's future. Her comments came after Gordon Brown earlier failed to explicitly support her stance during question time at the House of Commons.
But during Prime Minister's Questions at Westminster, Mr Brown denied Ms Alexander had said she wanted an early referendum on the matter. Rivals said Ms Alexander's position was untenable - but she insisted she had support from party colleagues.
Conservative leader David Cameron accused the prime minister of losing control over Scottish Labour. She said it was time to end the uncertainty over Scotland's future.
Mr Brown told MPs he would wait for the independent Calman Commission on devolution to report back before making decisions. Mr Brown's comments came after Conservative leader David Cameron accused him of loosing touch of reality - and control of the Scottish Labour Party.
The response came after Mr Cameron asked if the prime minister agreed with Ms Alexander that there should be a referendum now on independence. The Tory leader told the Commons: "This is what Wendy Alexander said: 'I don't fear the verdict of the Scottish people,' she told BBC Scotland on Sunday 'bring it on', what else could that possibly mean?"
'I don't fear the verdict of the Scottish people,' she told BBC Scotland on Sunday 'bring it on', what else could that possibly mean? David Cameron Conservative Party leader class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/briantaylor/2008/05/wheres_your_referendum_now.html">Read Brian Taylor's blog I have the support of the prime minister, the Labour group of MSPs and indeed many MPs and party members in harrying the SNP for the hollowness of [the SNP] position Wendy Alexander
Mr Brown answered by saying: "It is not what she has said". Mr Cameron asked if the prime minister agreed with Ms Alexander that there should be a referendum now on independence.
He added: "The Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and the Labour Party have joined together to set up the Calman review, the commission on devolution, and I hope we can see progress on that commission and we will review that progress before we make any further decisions and I thought that was the policy of the Conservative Party who supported the commission." "It is not what she has said," Mr Brown replied, adding that Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats had joined forces to set up the independent Calman Commission on devolution.
Mr Cameron insisted Mr Brown was "losing touch with reality". "I hope we can see progress on that commission and we will review that progress before we make any further decisions," he said.
He then said to the Labour leader: "This is what Wendy Alexander said: 'I don't fear the verdict of the Scottish people,' she told BBC Scotland on Sunday 'bring it on', what else could that possibly mean?"
Mr Brown said that what Ms Alexander was really pointing out was the "hollowness" of the SNP, which had wanted independence immediately and now wanted to postpone a referendum until 2011.
Wendy Alexander said it was time to end the uncertainty
He added: "And that was what she was pointing out and she was making it clear that what the SNP was doing was against their election manifesto."
The Scottish Government said it would not be hurried into speeding up its plans for a 2010 referendum.The Scottish Government said it would not be hurried into speeding up its plans for a 2010 referendum.
The country's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon questioned whether Ms Alexander was "a secret SNP member". Ms Alexander told BBC Scotland: "The prime minister and I are agreed on the need to expose the hollowness of the SNP's position, which is to claim they favour independence and yet not be willing to bring forward the referendum.
"I have the support of the prime minister, the Labour group of MSPs and indeed many MPs and party members in harrying the SNP for the hollowness of their position."
But Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said something now "had to give".
He added: "The positions of Wendy Alexander and the prime minister are incompatible. This claimed agreement is clearly not there.
"Either she has to go, he has to go or they both have to go and I suspect he wants to stay so I think she's now in a very difficult position."
Wendy Alexander said it was time to end the uncertainty
Scottish Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen added: "This is very close to meltdown. Nobody knows what Labour stands for any more and its leadership is in disarray."
Meanwhile, Ms Alexander's threat to bring forward her own referendum bill to Holyrood may fall at the first hurdle because of Scottish Parliament rules.Meanwhile, Ms Alexander's threat to bring forward her own referendum bill to Holyrood may fall at the first hurdle because of Scottish Parliament rules.
But MSPs proposing legislation need the support of 18 colleagues from at least two of the major parties. MSPs proposing legislation need the support of 18 colleagues from at least two of the major parties and rules also state the lawmaking process cannot be started if the Holyrood government of the day plans its own legislation on the same proposal within the parliament's four year term.
The rules also state that the lawmaking process cannot be started if the Holyrood government of the day plans its own legislation on the same proposal within the parliament's four year term.
Labour MP Brian Donohoe said he wanted a referendum as soon as possible.Labour MP Brian Donohoe said he wanted a referendum as soon as possible.
The MP for Central Ayrshire said: "I think the people of Scotland have to determine whether or not we allow the situation to bubble on or whether or not we lance it as an issue right now and get on with running the economy of the country, which I think the public believe is more important."The MP for Central Ayrshire said: "I think the people of Scotland have to determine whether or not we allow the situation to bubble on or whether or not we lance it as an issue right now and get on with running the economy of the country, which I think the public believe is more important."
Sir Kenneth Calman, chair of the devolution commission, also issued a statement reinforcing that party leaders and UK ministers still backed the body, after some questioned its relevance amid the debate on the timing of a referendum.