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Salmond 'misled' MSPs on referenda expert Matt Qvortrup Salmond 'sorry' for election expert Matt Qvortrup claim
(40 minutes later)
Opposition leaders have accused the first minister of misleading parliament by making up a quote from a leading academic. First Minister Alex Salmond has apologised for misleading parliament over the position of a leading academic on the independence referendum.
Alex Salmond said referendum expert Matt Qvortrup endorsed the SNP government's plans for a two-question vote on Scotland's future. Mr Salmond said referendum expert Matt Qvortrup had endorsed the SNP government's plans for a two-question vote on Scotland's future.
But deputy Tory leader Murdo Fraser said the comment was written by an adviser to the first minister. But he later corrected his comments, saying it was not his intention to mislead Holyrood.
Prof Qvortrup had told the Times that a two-question referendum was untenable.Prof Qvortrup had told the Times that a two-question referendum was untenable.
The issue flared up during first minister's questions, when Mr Salmond was pressed to name the date of the SNP's independence referendum, planned towards the end of the current parliamentary term.The issue flared up during first minister's questions, when Mr Salmond was pressed to name the date of the SNP's independence referendum, planned towards the end of the current parliamentary term.
The Scottish government is also considering whether to include a second question on the ballot paper, asking people if they want significant new powers for Holyrood, short of independence, known as "devolution max".The Scottish government is also considering whether to include a second question on the ballot paper, asking people if they want significant new powers for Holyrood, short of independence, known as "devolution max".
Mr Salmond told MSPs: "I've been handed a statement from Matt Qvortrup, a professor and the world's foremost expert on constitutional referenda - a letter that he's sending to the Times newspaper. Mr Salmond told MSPs: "I've been handed a statement from Matt Qvortrup, a professor and the world's foremost expert on constitutional referendum - a letter that he's sending to the Times newspaper.
"It closes by saying, 'while it is a matter for the Scottish people and parliament to determine the form of their own referendum and while asking about a single question would be much more common, such a two-question proposition would be fair, reasonable and clear'.""It closes by saying, 'while it is a matter for the Scottish people and parliament to determine the form of their own referendum and while asking about a single question would be much more common, such a two-question proposition would be fair, reasonable and clear'."
But later, Mr Fraser told Holyrood, while raising a point of order: "I've now been informed the words quoted by the first minister, purporting to be from Professor Qvortrup, are not those of the professor, but were written by the first minister's official spokesman. But later, deputy Tory leader Murdo Fraser told Holyrood, while raising a point of order: "I've now been informed the words quoted by the first minister, purporting to be from Professor Qvortrup, are not those of the professor, but were written by the first minister's official spokesman.
He went on: "If this is correct, it appears the first minister has misled parliament, and this should be a matter of great concern to all members."
Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats have now called on Mr Salmond to explain his position to MSPs.
The row came after Prof Qvortrup told the Times newspaper that a two-question referendum would not provide enough clarity on what Scots wanted.The row came after Prof Qvortrup told the Times newspaper that a two-question referendum would not provide enough clarity on what Scots wanted.
"Two questions on a ballot where people are asked to vote on both options is simply not feasible," he told the newspaper, adding: "There is a good chance that you would end up not knowing what people really want.""Two questions on a ballot where people are asked to vote on both options is simply not feasible," he told the newspaper, adding: "There is a good chance that you would end up not knowing what people really want."