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Salmond call for election control UK 'unpersuaded' over elections
(about 9 hours later)
First Minister Alex Salmond is set to demand that control over elections to the Scottish Parliament be passed from Westminster to Holyrood. The UK Government remains "unpersuaded" that control of the Scottish Parliament elections should be passed from Westminster to Holyrood.
The call will come in a meeting between Mr Salmond and Scottish Secretary Des Browne. First Minister Alex Salmond met Scottish Secretary Des Browne earlier to discuss the Gould report into the chaos at May's elections.
They will be discussing the lessons to be learned from the Holyrood elections fiasco and the recommendations of the subsequent Gould report. The report said control of future Scots elections should be reconsidered.
However, in an "amicable meeting", Mr Browne refused to back down by giving the Scottish Parliament further powers.
Following the meeting, in Edinburgh, Mr Salmond said: "I think I would have to say that, at best, the Secretary of State is unpersuaded by the Scottish Parliament's view and the recommendations of the Gould commission that legislative control should come to the Scottish Parliament.
I think at the end of the day that parliament should control its own elections Alex Salmond First Minister
"It was an amicable meeting and he has agreed that the decision is one that should be taken early, that should be taken first, but 'unpersuaded' is probably the best I could say about his attitude.
"I think that's unfortunate because I think at the end of the day that parliament should control its own elections - the fact that that's the view overwhelmingly of the Scottish Parliament should prevail as well."
Discussion will continue, added Mr Salmond, and a consultation will be carried out.
More than 140,000 ballot papers were rejected in the May elections.More than 140,000 ballot papers were rejected in the May elections.
New recommendations
Canadian elections expert Ron Gould was called in to investigate.Canadian elections expert Ron Gould was called in to investigate.
Separate elections His report was scathing in parts and recommendations included the creation of a new post of chief returning officer for Scotland.
His report was scathing in parts and made a number of recommendations. He also issued a call for the Scottish Parliament and local government elections to be held on separate days, with different ballot papers to stop confusion.
These included the creation of a new post of Chief Returning Officer for Scotland and a call for the Scottish Parliament and local government elections to be held on separate days, with different ballot papers to stop confusion.
Mr Salmond and Mr Browne will discuss whether they can find a common way forward.
Two weeks ago, the Scottish Parliament agreed that Holyrood should have more say over the legislative and executive conduct of Scottish elections.Two weeks ago, the Scottish Parliament agreed that Holyrood should have more say over the legislative and executive conduct of Scottish elections.
However, that view is unlikely to find favour with the UK Government.