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David Cameron agrees to Alex Salmond referendum meeting David Cameron agrees to Alex Salmond referendum meeting
(40 minutes later)
Prime Minister David Cameron has agreed to meet the Scottish first minister over how to decide Scotland's constitutional future.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.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.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 spokesman for Mr Salmond said the move represented "real progress".
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.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.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."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.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. A spokesman for Mr Salmond welcomed the development.
The UK government has clashed with SNP ministers, after saying the vote will not be legal unless Scotland gets new powers to hold it. He said: "It is much better than the initial reaction last Friday to the first minister's request for a meeting with the prime minister and deputy prime minister.
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. "We look forward to these meetings being arranged soon, and we will have them in any order the UK Government wish."
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 Salmond's spokesman said the first minister was "very happy to meet with the Scottish secretary".
"The prime minister has never refused to meet him, but he should talk first to the Scottish secretary." He said the SNP government's detailed consultation document on the referendum arrangements would be published on Wednesday 25 January.
"Thereafter, meetings can take place hopefully very soon," the spokesman said.
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.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.
The first minister, whose government is about to publish its own referendum consultation, said the Scottish secretary was not included in the group. Mr Salmond's spokesman said: "We believe it is to everyone's benefit that these meetings are informed by the published consultation documents of both the UK and Scottish governments, so that Mr Moore, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg can see what our proposals are - and we look forward to the meetings taking place."
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. Mr Moore had asked Mr Salmond for a meeting to resolve "real legal problems" with the independence referendum.
"I think the Downing Street position is unsustainable." The UK government has clashed with SNP ministers, after saying the vote will not be legal unless Scotland gets new powers to hold it.
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.
Elsewhere, former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling said he was not interested heading the pro-Union campaign, despite earlier speculation.Elsewhere, former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling said he was not interested heading the pro-Union campaign, despite earlier speculation.
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.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.