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| Scott 'not ruling out' referendum | Scott 'not ruling out' referendum |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has said he could not rule out an independence referendum or going into coalition government with the SNP. | Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has said he could not rule out an independence referendum or going into coalition government with the SNP. |
| He told BBC Scotland it was not possible to predict what might happen in the future, but insisted his party was right to oppose a Referendum Bill. | He told BBC Scotland it was not possible to predict what might happen in the future, but insisted his party was right to oppose a Referendum Bill. |
| Mr Scott said the public was more concerned with the recession than constitutional issues. | Mr Scott said the public was more concerned with the recession than constitutional issues. |
| He said people could back independence by voting for the SNP in an election. | He said people could back independence by voting for the SNP in an election. |
| But the Lib Dem leader said: "I don't think I should rule out a referendum for all time, because I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if I'll be in the next parliament." | But the Lib Dem leader said: "I don't think I should rule out a referendum for all time, because I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if I'll be in the next parliament." |
| In some ways, the gas and electricity companies have been hiding behind the bankers Tavish ScottScottish Liberal Democrat leader | |
| Speaking during a live BBC webcast, before a session of the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference, Mr Scott also accused gas electricity companies of hiding behind the banking crisis and charging "whacking great" prices to hard-up people. | |
| On the issue of the constitution, Mr Scott said an independence referendum was a minority view at Holyrood. | |
| He added: "I don't see why I should spend time promoting another party's policy." | He added: "I don't see why I should spend time promoting another party's policy." |
| "What I'm also clear about is the SNP, because it is the only reason for their existence, it wouldn't just be one, it would happen again and again and again." | "What I'm also clear about is the SNP, because it is the only reason for their existence, it wouldn't just be one, it would happen again and again and again." |
| "The SNP only believe in one thing, and that's independence," said Mr Scott. | "The SNP only believe in one thing, and that's independence," said Mr Scott. |
| "I certainly do think the people have the perfect opportunity to vote for the SNP at the next general election and, if they want independence, they can make that happen at that time." | "I certainly do think the people have the perfect opportunity to vote for the SNP at the next general election and, if they want independence, they can make that happen at that time." |
| Mr Scott also defended his party's decision not to form a coalition government with the SNP, which chose to govern as a minority administration, after the 2007 Scottish election. | Mr Scott also defended his party's decision not to form a coalition government with the SNP, which chose to govern as a minority administration, after the 2007 Scottish election. |
| Coalition 'possibility' | |
| He said the Lib Dems' opposition to a referendum during the election campaign made it difficult and pointed out that his party, combined with the Nationalists, would not have been able to form a majority coalition government anyway. | He said the Lib Dems' opposition to a referendum during the election campaign made it difficult and pointed out that his party, combined with the Nationalists, would not have been able to form a majority coalition government anyway. |
| But, asked if he would ever rule out coalition with the SNP, Mr Scott replied: "No. It could be a possibility." | But, asked if he would ever rule out coalition with the SNP, Mr Scott replied: "No. It could be a possibility." |
| Turning to the recession, Mr Scott raised concern that gas and electricity bills had not come down over the past few months. | |
| "I think, in some ways, the gas and electricity companies have been hiding behind the bankers, knowing the public concern and, indeed, fury is all around bankers at the moment and not about gas and electricity prices. | |
| "Pensioners and folk really up against it financially - still paying whacking great gas and electricity prices. | |
| I think it's something the government needs to really tackle." |