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Parties must unite to stop Scots independence - Darling | Parties must unite to stop Scots independence - Darling |
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Former chancellor Alistair Darling has urged Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems to unite to defeat those pushing for Scottish independence. | Former chancellor Alistair Darling has urged Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems to unite to defeat those pushing for Scottish independence. |
The Labour MP for Edinburgh South West told the BBC it was "terribly important that we fight this thing together". | The Labour MP for Edinburgh South West told the BBC it was "terribly important that we fight this thing together". |
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has said he will hold a referendum on independence in autumn 2014. | Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has said he will hold a referendum on independence in autumn 2014. |
Ministers in London - who favour an earlier vote - say any referendum would be unlawful without their approval. | |
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore told the House of Commons on Tuesday there would be a consultation on how to hold a referendum and he hoped to work with the Scottish National Party (SNP) government to resolve the dispute. | Scottish Secretary Michael Moore told the House of Commons on Tuesday there would be a consultation on how to hold a referendum and he hoped to work with the Scottish National Party (SNP) government to resolve the dispute. |
David Cameron has said he believes it is "very unfair" on the Scottish people not to have plans for a "legal, fair and decisive" referendum in place - although he has insisted he is not trying to "dictate" to Holyrood. | David Cameron has said he believes it is "very unfair" on the Scottish people not to have plans for a "legal, fair and decisive" referendum in place - although he has insisted he is not trying to "dictate" to Holyrood. |
'Work together' | 'Work together' |
The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour are all opposed to Scottish independence and the leaders of all three parties have promised to fight the SNP's cause. | The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour are all opposed to Scottish independence and the leaders of all three parties have promised to fight the SNP's cause. |
But BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said there was some disquiet among Lib Dems about Mr Cameron's intervention. | But BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said there was some disquiet among Lib Dems about Mr Cameron's intervention. |
He said some believed the prime minister had not adopted a sufficiently conciliatory tone and seemed like he was trying too hard to crush Mr Salmond. | He said some believed the prime minister had not adopted a sufficiently conciliatory tone and seemed like he was trying too hard to crush Mr Salmond. |
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Darling said a united front from Westminster was vital. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Darling said a united front from Westminster was vital. |
"The last thing Scotland needs is for this to be posed as somehow an SNP government in Edinburgh up against a Tory government in London. | "The last thing Scotland needs is for this to be posed as somehow an SNP government in Edinburgh up against a Tory government in London. |
"That would be very, very bad... That's what Salmond wants it to be, it suits him down to the ground." | "That would be very, very bad... That's what Salmond wants it to be, it suits him down to the ground." |
He continued: "I think it's important for people in my party to be prepared to work with Liberals, with Conservatives, people who are in no political party at all. | He continued: "I think it's important for people in my party to be prepared to work with Liberals, with Conservatives, people who are in no political party at all. |
"We've got our disagreements on other issues and so on, but this campaign is only going to be won if it is fought in Scotland... by people who have got Scotland's best interests at heart." | "We've got our disagreements on other issues and so on, but this campaign is only going to be won if it is fought in Scotland... by people who have got Scotland's best interests at heart." |
Labour leader Ed Miliband has said he will "definitely" get out to campaign against independence. | Labour leader Ed Miliband has said he will "definitely" get out to campaign against independence. |
"I think a cross-party campaign will be led by people of grit and steel right across the political spectrum, but there are also people in the Labour Party who will be prominently involved in the campaign, including me," he said. | "I think a cross-party campaign will be led by people of grit and steel right across the political spectrum, but there are also people in the Labour Party who will be prominently involved in the campaign, including me," he said. |
Consultation | Consultation |
In his statement to MPs, Mr Moore said 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. | In his statement to MPs, Mr Moore said 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. |
But the SNP have said they are "entirely confident" of their plans to bring in a Referendum Bill setting up a vote for autumn 2014. | But the SNP have said they are "entirely confident" of their plans to bring in a Referendum Bill setting up a vote for autumn 2014. |
Mr Darling said that while it was important to clarify the legal position, time should not be wasted discussing "process" when the realities of independence - for example, whether it would mean Scotland joining the euro - were far more important. | Mr Darling said that while it was important to clarify the legal position, time should not be wasted discussing "process" when the realities of independence - for example, whether it would mean Scotland joining the euro - were far more important. |
Mr Salmond said the problems surrounding the referendum flared because Mr Cameron had suddenly decided to "start pulling strings and setting conditions", but said he believed that would only increase support for independence. | Mr Salmond said the problems surrounding the referendum flared because Mr Cameron had suddenly decided to "start pulling strings and setting conditions", but said he believed that would only increase support for independence. |
The first minister has said he will hold a consultation on the precise question to be asked in the referendum. | The first minister has said he will hold a consultation on the precise question to be asked in the referendum. |
Westminster favours a straightforward yes or no to independence, but a third option - so called "devolution max" - could also be added. | Westminster favours a straightforward yes or no to independence, but a third option - so called "devolution max" - could also be added. |
This would give voters the chance to opt for increased powers for the Scottish Parliament - for example over monetary policy - without gaining full political independence. | This would give voters the chance to opt for increased powers for the Scottish Parliament - for example over monetary policy - without gaining full political independence. |
The SNP says it prefers a yes/no choice, but it accepts there is "a significant body of opinion" in Scotland which favours the other option. | The SNP says it prefers a yes/no choice, but it accepts there is "a significant body of opinion" in Scotland which favours the other option. |
It is thought that "devo max" would be harder for Westminster to defeat because it would split the unionist vote. | It is thought that "devo max" would be harder for Westminster to defeat because it would split the unionist 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. |