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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lib Dems warned over ballot talk | Lib Dems warned over ballot talk |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat chief whip Mike Rumbles has warned MSPs to talk to him before talking publicly about a referendum on Scottish independence. | |
| The move came after leader Tavish Scott dismissed reports that some senior Lib Dems supported a referendum. | |
| The BBC has obtained a leaked memo by the party's chief Holyrood whip, Mike Rumbles, warning MSPs about talking to journalists about the issue. | |
| Mr Rumbles said he wanted to make sure MSPs were "up-to-date". | |
| He also said the party's position of opposing the referendum was clear. | He also said the party's position of opposing the referendum was clear. |
| The minority Scottish government of the SNP needs to gain opposition support in parliament to stage its independence referendum in 2010. | |
| Mr Scott and UK Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg have already rejected calls for an early referendum from two of the party's prospective parliamentary candidates. | Mr Scott and UK Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg have already rejected calls for an early referendum from two of the party's prospective parliamentary candidates. |
| Writing to MSPs on Tuesday, Mr Rumbles stated: "Would all colleagues please refrain from commenting to the media until you have spoken either to me or to the press office first." | Writing to MSPs on Tuesday, Mr Rumbles stated: "Would all colleagues please refrain from commenting to the media until you have spoken either to me or to the press office first." |
| PINA COLADA BLUES Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor | PINA COLADA BLUES Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor |
| There is, as I recall, a rather deft little ditty entitled: "Blame it on the bossa nova." It even featured in an episode of the West Wing. | There is, as I recall, a rather deft little ditty entitled: "Blame it on the bossa nova." It even featured in an episode of the West Wing. |
| Tavish Scott, it appears, is inclined to look elsewhere for his causal link of choice. On BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme this morning, he blamed it on the pina colada at his party's Bournemouth conference. | Tavish Scott, it appears, is inclined to look elsewhere for his causal link of choice. On BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme this morning, he blamed it on the pina colada at his party's Bournemouth conference. |
| The import of his wireless words was that one or two excitable delegates had been so fired up by a lethal combination of sea air and Latin liquor that their thoughts instantly turned to... the prospect of a referendum on Scottish independence, no doubt conducted via the single transferable vote. Brian Taylor's blog | The import of his wireless words was that one or two excitable delegates had been so fired up by a lethal combination of sea air and Latin liquor that their thoughts instantly turned to... the prospect of a referendum on Scottish independence, no doubt conducted via the single transferable vote. Brian Taylor's blog |
| The memo continued: "I shouldn't need to remind everyone that our parliamentary party policy is of course that we will vote against the SNP's proposed legislation." | The memo continued: "I shouldn't need to remind everyone that our parliamentary party policy is of course that we will vote against the SNP's proposed legislation." |
| Mr Rumbles later told the BBC Scotland news website: "I am more than happy for MSPs to talk to journalists. I was asking them to speak to me or the press office first, so they are up-to-date. | |
| "I am happy for MSPs to talk about this issue. | |
| "All 15 MSPs unanimously voted against the referendum proposals by the SNP government. | |
| "They have all voted in a particular way and I don't see why they would take a different view. I am not aware of any MSP who has changed their mind over this issue." | |
| Earlier, Mr Scott insisted his party was not about to perform a U-turn over a Scottish independence referendum, as the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth continued. | Earlier, Mr Scott insisted his party was not about to perform a U-turn over a Scottish independence referendum, as the Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth continued. |
| He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Inevitably during a conference the heady sea air, and possibly one or two pina coladas, get a little too much for one or two colleagues. | He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Inevitably during a conference the heady sea air, and possibly one or two pina coladas, get a little too much for one or two colleagues. |
| "The serious point here is that the Liberal Democrats are absolutely united in opposing independence. That's been the absolutely key discussion behind the scenes among all of us." | "The serious point here is that the Liberal Democrats are absolutely united in opposing independence. That's been the absolutely key discussion behind the scenes among all of us." |
| He said there was inevitably a bit of "conference chatter" about the best way to tackle different issues, but added: "There is going to be no change in the position." | He said there was inevitably a bit of "conference chatter" about the best way to tackle different issues, but added: "There is going to be no change in the position." |
| Mr Scott's denial came after the Scotsman newspaper reported senior figures in the party now believed supporting an early referendum was the best chance of maintaining the union. | Mr Scott's denial came after the Scotsman newspaper reported senior figures in the party now believed supporting an early referendum was the best chance of maintaining the union. |
| A party source was quoted as saying: "There is serious consideration being given to it. The fact is, by 2011, the SNP could be governing with a majority. | A party source was quoted as saying: "There is serious consideration being given to it. The fact is, by 2011, the SNP could be governing with a majority. |
| "Labour, having lost the general election, will still be tearing itself apart and in no way to fight for the union." | "Labour, having lost the general election, will still be tearing itself apart and in no way to fight for the union." |