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Alex Salmond insists on independence referendum mandate Minister Moore 'happy to sort out' legal referendum
(about 1 hour later)
  
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has said his government has a mandate to hold a referendum on independence in the autumn of 2014. UK minister Michael Moore has said he would be happy to work with Scotland's first minister to "sort out" legal issues over an independence referendum.
The UK government says Holyrood cannot legally go ahead without its authority. The Westminster government had insisted that Holyrood could not go ahead with the poll without its authority.
But Alex Salmond said his SNP administration had the right to hold the referendum in the autumn of 2014.
If Westminster and Holyrood fail to resolve the legal issue it could end up being ruled over by the Supreme Court.
Mr Moore insisted that "we get on with" the referendum which he said was the "most important decision any of us in Scotland will take in our lives".
The coalition minister, who is Lib Dem MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, announced a consultation about the referendum during a statement to MPs in the House of Commons.
The SNP government has also announced that it will hold its own consultation on the Scottish independence vote.
In addition, it revealed it wanted the referendum to be held in autumn 2014.
But it has been argued that in order for it to be binding, the UK government needs to provide the Scottish government with the legal authority.
Westminster's "clear view" was that the power to hold a referendum was "reserved" to Westminster under devolution laws passed in 1998 and that the Scottish government could not authorise a referendum on its own.
Mr Moore told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I think the important point is that we would not want to carry out the whole referendum process, make the decision in the ballot box and then discover somebody somewhere wanted to challenge that."
Asked who might want to make a legal challenge, he said: "I don't know, but isn't it better to resolve that potential, get rid of any risk which I think is clear cut risk, let's get on with it.
"I am happy to work with Alex to sort out the legal issue and then lets have a debate about whether or not Scotland should be part of the UK or not - that is the crux of this matter."
But Mr Salmond said UK PM David Cameron had "no mandate" to set the rules and suggested he was doing so because he was "frightened" he would lose.But Mr Salmond said UK PM David Cameron had "no mandate" to set the rules and suggested he was doing so because he was "frightened" he would lose.
href="/news/uk-politics-16499019" title="Salmond and Cameron in high stakes battle" >The BBC's Nick Robinson says it could mean an historic Supreme Court struggle between Westminster and Holyrood. The SNP leader believed the 2014 date would allow people to make a "considered" decision on the country's future within the UK.
Mr Salmond said the 2014 date would allow people to make a "considered" decision on the country's future within the UK.
'Not right'
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "not fair" to suggest he was worried he would lose if the referendum had only two options - to stay in the UK or leave it - which is the UK government's preference.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was "not fair" to suggest he was worried he would lose if the referendum had only two options - to stay in the UK or leave it - which is the UK government's preference.
He denied wanting a "get out clause" and said there was a "lot of opinion in Scotland" supporting a third option - increased financial powers for the Scottish government, short of full independence, known as "devo max".He denied wanting a "get out clause" and said there was a "lot of opinion in Scotland" supporting a third option - increased financial powers for the Scottish government, short of full independence, known as "devo max".
"I just don't think it's right and proper at this stage, before people have had a consultation on the referendum question or questions for the UK government to start ruling that out."
"Why should we be excluding what is a legitimate point of view across Scotland?"
"Perhaps the Westminster politicians are trying to set the ground rules, the timing, who votes, the questions because they are frightened they will lose it?"
In a row that could become a constitutional crisis, Mr Salmond has accused the UK government of adopting a belligerent attitude.
'Sooner not later'
He said Mr Cameron's intervention had been "almost Thatcher-esque": "The idea [was] that 'London knows best' and was really operating in our best interests but wanted to set the ground rules for our referendum, despite the fact he's got no mandate whatsoever for doing so."
Mr Salmond said: "I just don't think it's right and proper at this stage, before people have had a consultation on the referendum question or questions for the UK government to start ruling that out.
"Why should we be excluding what is a legitimate point of view across Scotland?
"Perhaps the Westminster politicians are trying to set the ground rules, the timing, who votes, the questions because they are frightened they will lose it?"
Mr Salmond went on to accuse the UK government of adopting a belligerent attitude.
He said Mr Cameron's intervention had been "almost Thatcher-esque". He added: "The idea [was] that 'London knows best' and was really operating in our best interests but wanted to set the ground rules for our referendum, despite the fact he's got no mandate whatsoever for doing so.
"The SNP won an overwhelming majority on the promise that we would offer the people a referendum on their own future, is it not entirely reasonable that that referendum ... is made in Scotland and decided by the Scottish people?""The SNP won an overwhelming majority on the promise that we would offer the people a referendum on their own future, is it not entirely reasonable that that referendum ... is made in Scotland and decided by the Scottish people?"
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore says he hopes to work with the SNP government to resolve the dispute.
He told MPs on Tuesday that there would be a consultation on how to hold a referendum.
He has not stated when the coalition government would prefer a referendum to be held, but said he would like it to be "sooner rather than later".
The government's "clear view" was that the power to hold a referendum was "reserved" to Westminster under devolution laws passed in 1998 and that the Scottish government could not authorise a referendum on its own.
Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said Mr Salmond's announcing the preferred date was a "panicked response from a panicked first minister".Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said Mr Salmond's announcing the preferred date was a "panicked response from a panicked first minister".
Big differences
Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the "key issues" were what the referendum question would be and who would oversee the vote.Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the "key issues" were what the referendum question would be and who would oversee the vote.
Under the Scottish government's timetable, a referendum bill would be introduced at Holyrood in January 2013, it would be expected to be passed by the autumn and gain Royal Assent later in 2013.Under the Scottish government's timetable, a referendum bill would be introduced at Holyrood in January 2013, it would be expected to be passed by the autumn and gain Royal Assent later in 2013.
Big differences also remain between the Scottish and UK governments on the timing of the referendum, who would run it and on whether 16 and 17-year-olds could vote.Big differences also remain between the Scottish and UK governments on the timing of the referendum, who would run it and on whether 16 and 17-year-olds could vote.