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SNP sees amicable split to union | SNP sees amicable split to union |
(about 7 hours later) | |
England would still be Scotland's "biggest pal" if the two nations split, the Scottish National Party's leader has told the BBC. | England would still be Scotland's "biggest pal" if the two nations split, the Scottish National Party's leader has told the BBC. |
Alex Salmond denied that independence for Scotland would cause chaos, saying the two countries could be good and "friendly neighbours". | |
Mr Salmond said the SNP was on course to win control of the Scottish Parliament in next month's elections. | Mr Salmond said the SNP was on course to win control of the Scottish Parliament in next month's elections. |
He denied that independence would create border or passport problems. | He denied that independence would create border or passport problems. |
'Prominent economist' | |
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme the SNP leader said that just as there was no need of a passport "to visit your cousin in Cork", there would be no need for one to "to visit your granny in Grimsby". | In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme the SNP leader said that just as there was no need of a passport "to visit your cousin in Cork", there would be no need for one to "to visit your granny in Grimsby". |
The SNP has already said it would hold a referendum on independence in 2010 - towards the end of its first four-year term if it were to take power at Holyrood - at a cost of £7m. | The SNP has already said it would hold a referendum on independence in 2010 - towards the end of its first four-year term if it were to take power at Holyrood - at a cost of £7m. |
Labour has called the independence proposal a ticking tax bomb. | |
Mr Salmond dismissed claims that his party's figures did not add up. | |
He said: "Probably Scotland's prominent economist of the last generation, Professor David Simpson - for 20 years the economic analyst for Standard Life - said our sums did add up. So that is a matter of political debate. | |
"We know our sums add up. Both in terms of what we want to do in a devolved government and in terms of the appetite and plans for independence." | |
After independence, England will still be our biggest pal, our biggest friend, our biggest trading partner Alex Salmond | |
He said he was happy that his party's plans were leading the political debate. | |
Mr Salmond said the current Scottish Executive was an "over-mighty bureaucracy" from which efficiency savings of 1.5% "year on year" were "realistic". | |
The SNP leader said the element of proportional representation in the Scottish Parliament meant it was unlikely that any one party would have an overall majority after the election. | |
A number of opinion polls over the past few weeks have indicated the SNP could be the largest party after the 3 May election. | |
Mr Salmond said he had only ruled out forming a coalition with one party - the Scottish Conservatives. | |
'Unwanted policies' | |
This, he said, was due to its "traditional range of anti-Scottish policies". | |
He said that the best way to find out if people were in favour of "negotiating Scotland into an independent and sovereign state" was to hold a referendum. | |
Mr Salmond added that the weight of polling evidence suggested the Scottish people were in favour of the question being asked. | |
When asked about how people south of the border, especially those with relatives in Scotland, would feel about Scottish independence, he said: "I think the vast majority of the people in England would say, 'let the Scots have the right to decide their own future'." | |
Mr Salmond said: "I think a lot of people in England can see the advantages of the people of England being able to decide on things like foundation hospitals or top-up fees, without being bossed around by Scottish Labour MPs, who seem intent on forcing unwanted policies down the throats of the people of England." | |
He added: "After independence, England will still be our biggest pal, our biggest friend, our biggest trading partner and people both north and south of the border find that a very attractive proposition." |
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