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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tory claims MSPs back referendum | Tory claims MSPs back referendum |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The vice chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party has suggested some of his party's MSPs are willing to back an independence referendum. | The vice chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party has suggested some of his party's MSPs are willing to back an independence referendum. |
| Richard Cook said he supported a referendum to "clear the air" over Scotland's constitutional future. | Richard Cook said he supported a referendum to "clear the air" over Scotland's constitutional future. |
| A spokesman for party leader Annabel Goldie said she did not back the poll and that it was not "on their radar". | A spokesman for party leader Annabel Goldie said she did not back the poll and that it was not "on their radar". |
| The SNP has given itself 100 days in power to deliver a white paper for a referendum on independence. | |
| Speaking on the BBC Scotland's Politics Show, Mr Cook said that five Tory MSPs were broadly supportive of his views. | Speaking on the BBC Scotland's Politics Show, Mr Cook said that five Tory MSPs were broadly supportive of his views. |
| In an interview with the Scotland on Sunday newspaper he also said: "I'm personally in support of a referendum bill at the earliest possible opportunity, to remove the uncertainty already being created to business. | In an interview with the Scotland on Sunday newspaper he also said: "I'm personally in support of a referendum bill at the earliest possible opportunity, to remove the uncertainty already being created to business. |
| "There are plenty of business people who are delaying taking business decisions at the moment, and that is jeopardising Scottish jobs and wealth creation in Scotland. | "There are plenty of business people who are delaying taking business decisions at the moment, and that is jeopardising Scottish jobs and wealth creation in Scotland. |
| "My position is that we should be making the positive case for the Union, not the negative case for independence." | "My position is that we should be making the positive case for the Union, not the negative case for independence." |
| 'No appetite' | 'No appetite' |
| Conservative support for the SNP's plans could help bring a referendum a step closer to reality because of the way the Scottish Parliament is made up. | Conservative support for the SNP's plans could help bring a referendum a step closer to reality because of the way the Scottish Parliament is made up. |
| But Ms Goldie's spokesman said she did not back the poll and wanted to get on with "bread and butter" issues. | But Ms Goldie's spokesman said she did not back the poll and wanted to get on with "bread and butter" issues. |
| "Annabel does not back a referendum," he said "We are solely interested in delivery. | "Annabel does not back a referendum," he said "We are solely interested in delivery. |
| "Barely a quarter of Scots back independence. | "Barely a quarter of Scots back independence. |
| "There's no appetite for independence. It's not even on our radar screen." | "There's no appetite for independence. It's not even on our radar screen." |
| He added: "This issue was well aired and well debated throughout the election campaign. | He added: "This issue was well aired and well debated throughout the election campaign. |
| "Our position was unequivocal then and unequivocal now." | "Our position was unequivocal then and unequivocal now." |