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Second Scottish independence referendum is 'inevitable', says Alex Salmond Second Scottish independence referendum is 'inevitable', says Alex Salmond
(about 4 hours later)
A second referendum on Scottish independence is “inevitable”, Alex Salmond has said. A second referendum on Scottish independence has become inevitable since David Cameron’s election victory, Alex Salmond has claimed.
In an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, the former First Minister said: “I think a second independence referendum is inevitable. The question is not the inevitability, it’s the timing and that is very much in the hands of Nicola Sturgeon.” The former SNP leader said it was only a matter of timing over when a fresh vote would be staged following last September’s poll in which 55.3 per cent of Scots voted to remain in the United Kingdom.
He added that he feels a trio of factors will influence the feasibility of a referendum; the referendum on Europe, austerity, and failure to deliver on ‘the vow’. He argued that the Conservatives’ policies on austerity, devolution and the European Union were “moving things” towards a new referendum.
‘The vow’ was a promise signed by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to devolve more powers for Scotland if a ‘no vote’ was secured. The former First Minister, who has returned to Westminster as an MP, struck a different note from his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, who ruled out the prospect of a second vote on independence during the general election campaign. He told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think a second independence referendum is inevitable. The question is not the inevitability, it’s the timing and that is very much in the hands of Nicola Sturgeon.”
Salmond claimed that this promise had not been fulfilled: “Instead of getting devo to the max, we’re getting austerity to the max and that divergent view of what’s right in social terms between Scotland and England is another issue which is moving things towards another referendum.” Mr Salmond accused the Prime Minister of failing to deliver on his pre-election promises of wide-ranging devolution of power to Scotland and of planning “austerity to the max”.
The SNP MP resigned as Scottish First Minister in September following the failed bid for Scottish independence. He said a vote for Britain to leave the EU in the membership referendum promised by Mr Cameron could put independence on the agenda. He said: “If you had a situation and circumstance where Scotland voted to stay in the European Union in the referendum, but was dragged out on the votes of the people of England then that would be a material change of circumstance.”
Mr Salmond’s comments reflected an increased confidence in SNP ranks that its stunning general election performance, when it captured 56 of the 59 Scottish seats, could provide a launch-pad for a new drive for independence. Ms Sturgeon is expected to come under pressure on the issue at the SNP’s annual conference in Aberdeen in October.
Mr Salmond resigned as Scottish First Minister in September following the failed bid for Scottish independence.
Prior to the vote, he described it as a “once in a generation, perhaps even once in a lifetime, opportunity for Scotland” and argued that if it did not succeed, a second referendum would not take place.Prior to the vote, he described it as a “once in a generation, perhaps even once in a lifetime, opportunity for Scotland” and argued that if it did not succeed, a second referendum would not take place.
With additional reporting by PA Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish Secretary, said: “Alex Salmond’s priorities are all wrong. Instead of obsessing about a rerun of a vote that took place less than a year ago, the SNP should focus on cleaning up the mess they have made of Scotland’s public services.”