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Call for independence referendum 'legal' meeting David Cameron agrees to Alex Salmond referendum meeting
(about 3 hours later)
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has asked Alex Salmond for a meeting to resolve "real legal problems" with the independence referendum. Prime Minister David Cameron has agreed to meet the Scottish first minister over how to decide Scotland's constitutional future.
The decision follows claims by Alex Salmond he had asked on six occasions for a meeting with Mr Cameron, none of which had been accepted.
But Number 10 still believes that the first minister should meet the Scottish secretary first.
They would discuss the consultation process launched by the UK government.
A war of words between the UK government and the Scottish government has been rumbling since last weekend when Mr Cameron's Tory-Lib Dem coalition decided to increase the pressure on Mr Salmond's SNP to name the date for the referendum on independence.
On Tuesday, as Scottish Secretary Michael Moore outlined a UK government consultation on the legality of an independence referendum, Mr Salmond finally announced that he planned to hold the vote in autumn 2014.
A statement issued by Downing Street said: "The prime minister and the deputy prime minister have made it clear they are happy to meet Alex Salmond and arrangements will be made for that in the coming days."
But the statement goes on to say that the prime minister also believes the first minister should accept the invitation to meet the Scottish secretary on Thursday, to discuss the consultation process.
Mr Moore has asked Mr Salmond for a meeting to resolve "real legal problems" with the independence referendum.
The UK government has clashed with SNP ministers, after saying the vote will not be legal unless Scotland gets new powers to hold it.The UK government has clashed with SNP ministers, after saying the vote will not be legal unless Scotland gets new powers to hold it.
First Minister Mr Salmond has said he was happy to meet Mr Moore. On Friday, Mr Salmond invited Nick Clegg, the deputy Prime Minister and Mr Cameron to formal talks, but was told he should "engage" instead with Mr Moore.
But he claimed Prime Minister David Cameron "appeared to be un-keen" to meet him face-to-face. A Whitehall source said: "It's only because the prime minister has moved the issue on and the UK's consultation process has been set in train, that Alex Salmond has named his preferred date of autumn 2014.
Mr Moore's call came as the Conservatives claimed almost a million Scots could be denied an independence referendum vote if the SNP refused the proper powers to run it. "The prime minister has never refused to meet him, but he should talk first to the Scottish secretary."
The Tory argument - dismissed by Scottish ministers as "simply nonsense" - stated that the SNP would be unable to access the full electoral roll of four million voters, if it held a referendum on its own terms. Earlier Mr Salmond told BBC Scotland that Westminster policy on the referendum was being led by the "Westminster Quad" of Mr Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne, Deputy PM Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury.
Elsewhere, former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling said he was not interested heading the pro-Union campaign, despite earlier speculation.
Ministers at Westminster have said they want to work with the Scottish government to ensure it has the proper powers to hold the referendum - planned for autumn 2014 - because constitutional issues are not devolved to Holyrood.
But SNP ministers have accused the coalition of trying to attach strings to the referendum, such as dictating the precise date and what will appear on the ballot paper.
Mr Moore said of the offer for a meeting: "We want this referendum made in Scotland and we should start the work this week in the nation's capital.
"There are real legal problems that need solved and I hope we all share the desire to have a legal, fair and decisive referendum."
But Mr Salmond told BBC Scotland that Westminster policy on the referendum was being led by the "Westminster Quad" of Mr Cameron, Chancellor George Osborne, Deputy PM Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury.
The first minister, whose government is about to publish its own referendum consultation, said the Scottish secretary was not included in the group.The first minister, whose government is about to publish its own referendum consultation, said the Scottish secretary was not included in the group.
He said: "I'll talk to anyone, but if you're going to make progress you've got to talk to those who are making the decisions. He earlier said: "I'll talk to anyone, but if you're going to make progress you've got to talk to those who are making the decisions.
"I think the Downing Street's position is unsustainable." "I think the Downing Street position is unsustainable."
Mr Salmond said he had tried to meet the PM "about six times since we last met in July and each time Downing Street has been un-keen on having a face to face meeting to discuss these issues".Mr Salmond said he had tried to meet the PM "about six times since we last met in July and each time Downing Street has been un-keen on having a face to face meeting to discuss these issues".
The PM has said he favoured a referendum "as soon as possible" - earlier than 2014.The PM has said he favoured a referendum "as soon as possible" - earlier than 2014.
Westminster is also believed to favour a single question, yes or no to independence, rather than including a third option - so called "devolution max" - for greater powers for Scotland.Westminster is also believed to favour a single question, yes or no to independence, rather than including a third option - so called "devolution max" - for greater powers for Scotland.
Mr Salmond also refused to break with convention to publish the legal advice given to his government on holding the referendum. Elsewhere, former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling said he was not interested heading the pro-Union campaign, despite earlier speculation.
He stressed: "I and the SNP government, and I don't think anybody, has no objection whatsoever to a legally-binding referendum, because our argument was on a consultative referendum. Mr Darling, the MP for Edinburgh South West, told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme he would play a full part in making the case to keep the union, but said the campaign would have to be run on a day-to-day basis from Scotland.
"What we object to is the strings that are attached."
The first minister added: "Most of the referendums which have been conducted in the UK have been consultative referendums - it's very unusual to have a legally-binding referendum."
The Conservatives said that, if the Scottish government went ahead with the referendum without UK government assistance, it would only have access to the publicly available, edited electoral register - mainly used by direct marketing companies - on which voters can opt out of being included.
Scotland Office Minister David Mundell said: "The UK government has set out very clearly that the Scottish government cannot legislate lawfully for a referendum with its current powers.
"The full electoral register can only be used for specific purposes such as the general or Holyrood elections.
"The legal position is clear - if the SNP attempts to go ahead with its own referendum then it will be nothing more than an opinion poll, with a million Scots unable to be asked for their view."
A Scottish government spokesman said the referendum would be brought about through legislation at Holyrood, which would ensure full access to the electoral register.
"The Scottish government is entirely confident of its position, and of the overwhelming mandate it has received from the people of Scotland to hold a referendum," said the spokesman.
"In any event, the claim that the full electoral register will not be used for the referendum is simply nonsense."
The Tories said that, based on figures from the General Register Office for Scotland almost 27% of the 3.9 million voters on the electoral register had opted out of the edited version.
Meanwhile, Mr Darling, the MP for Edinburgh South West, told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme he would play a full part in making the case to keep the union, but said the campaign would have to be run on a day-to-day basis from Scotland.
He said: "I'm an MP and, out of necessity, I'm in the House of Commons three or four days a week and I've said it's important the campaign is actually run from Scotland."He said: "I'm an MP and, out of necessity, I'm in the House of Commons three or four days a week and I've said it's important the campaign is actually run from Scotland."
Mr Darling added: "This is a two-and-a-half year campaign - it makes the American presidential campaign look very short indeed."Mr Darling added: "This is a two-and-a-half year campaign - it makes the American presidential campaign look very short indeed."
The Labour MP also criticised Mr Salmond's policy on keeping the pound if Scotland became independent, ahead of a plan to join the Euro "when the conditions are right".The Labour MP also criticised Mr Salmond's policy on keeping the pound if Scotland became independent, ahead of a plan to join the Euro "when the conditions are right".
The former chancellor said that would put Scotland in the situation where interests rates and monetary policy would be fixed by a foreign country, by the Bank of England.The former chancellor said that would put Scotland in the situation where interests rates and monetary policy would be fixed by a foreign country, by the Bank of England.
Mr Salmond said there would be no obstacle to continue to use the pound, which was a "fully convertible currency".Mr Salmond said there would be no obstacle to continue to use the pound, which was a "fully convertible currency".
Labour leader Ed Miliband told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that Mr Darling would still play a prominent role in the campaign, but that Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont would head the party's "no" campaign.Labour leader Ed Miliband told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that Mr Darling would still play a prominent role in the campaign, but that Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont would head the party's "no" campaign.