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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Call to lance 'independence boil' | Call to lance 'independence boil' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The row over an independence referendum is expected to dominate first minister's questions at Holyrood. | The row over an independence referendum is expected to dominate first minister's questions at Holyrood. |
| Alex Salmond has accused Labour of "disarray" over separate comments by Gordon Brown and Wendy Alexander. | Alex Salmond has accused Labour of "disarray" over separate comments by Gordon Brown and Wendy Alexander. |
| Critics have also accused the Scottish Labour leader of making the Calman Commission on constitutional change redundant by calling for an early poll. Meanwhile, CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan has branded the issue a "boil on Scotland's neck that needs lanced". | |
| He said the country should move quickly to hold a vote and settle the issue. | He said the country should move quickly to hold a vote and settle the issue. |
| Mr McMillan is a member of the 15-strong Calman Commission reviewing devolution on behalf of Scottish Labour, the Scottish Tories and the Scottish Liberal Democrats. | Mr McMillan is a member of the 15-strong Calman Commission reviewing devolution on behalf of Scottish Labour, the Scottish Tories and the Scottish Liberal Democrats. |
| Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm has also come to Ms Alexander's defence, insisting that her call for an early referendum was right, and that her position was safe. | Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm has also come to Ms Alexander's defence, insisting that her call for an early referendum was right, and that her position was safe. |
| Gordon Brown holds Wendy Alexander in the highest regard and trusts her political judgement Malcolm Chisholm MSP | Gordon Brown holds Wendy Alexander in the highest regard and trusts her political judgement Malcolm Chisholm MSP |
| He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's absolutely safe because she has widespread support not only within the Labour Party but I believe throughout Scotland." | He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It's absolutely safe because she has widespread support not only within the Labour Party but I believe throughout Scotland." |
| Mr Chisholm went on to say that Mr Brown "holds Wendy Alexander in the highest regard and trusts her political judgement". | Mr Chisholm went on to say that Mr Brown "holds Wendy Alexander in the highest regard and trusts her political judgement". |
| The debate about the referendum took a new twist on Wednesday when the prime minister failed to explicitly support Ms Alexander's stance during question time at the House of Commons. | The debate about the referendum took a new twist on Wednesday when the prime minister failed to explicitly support Ms Alexander's stance during question time at the House of Commons. |
| Conservative Party leader David Cameron had asked Mr Brown if he agreed with the Scottish Labour leader that there should be a referendum now on independence. | Conservative Party leader David Cameron had asked Mr Brown if he agreed with the Scottish Labour leader that there should be a referendum now on independence. |
| Devolution commission | Devolution commission |
| "That 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. | "That 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 Chisholm, who is Labour MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said there was no contradiction between Ms Alexander and Mr Brown. He added: "What she said was quite simple - she said the SNP should bring the referendum bill forward in the interests of Scotland. | Mr Chisholm, who is Labour MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said there was no contradiction between Ms Alexander and Mr Brown. He added: "What she said was quite simple - she said the SNP should bring the referendum bill forward in the interests of Scotland. |
| "There is absolutely no contradiction between what Gordon Brown said about Calman and what Wendy Alexander has been saying about a referendum. | "There is absolutely no contradiction between what Gordon Brown said about Calman and what Wendy Alexander has been saying about a referendum. |
| "Of course we need a choice - but we also need to have the Calman Commission to review, and I believe extend, the powers of the Scottish Parliament within the UK." | "Of course we need a choice - but we also need to have the Calman Commission to review, and I believe extend, the powers of the Scottish Parliament within the UK." |