28 March 2008
Scotland's first minister has challenged opposition parties to agree to a referendum to test constitutional proposals from a newly formed commission, which would radically alter the country's relations with the rest of the UK.
Alex Salmond was speaking on March 26, as he gave details of the second phase of the Scottish National Party government's 'National Conversation', which invites Scots to give their views on independence and alternative plans for increasing the Parliament's powers.
His call came a day after pro-Union opposition parties announced the remit of a Parliament-backed commission that will review the devolution settlement but will not consider independence.
The commission will be chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman, a former chief medical officer in both Scotland and England and now chancellor of Glasgow University.
Salmond said the Scottish government believed that independence for Scotland – making it an equal partner with the other nations of the UK – offered the best prospect. He added: 'However, I also recognise there is a range of other views in our country, and represented in the Parliament, and believe that these should continue to be debated as part of the National Conversation.
'That is why I have set out a challenge for the constitutional review to develop their proposals so they can be included in a referendum.'
Labour, the Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties are backing the commission on the constitution, which was also endorsed this week by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the UK Cabinet.
Brown said: 'Together we are determined to review the provisions of the Scotland Act in the light of ten years' experience, while securing Scotland's place within the UK.'
The commission's remit is to review devolution and recommend changes to enable the Scottish Parliament to better serve the people and 'continue to secure the position of Scotland in the United Kingdom'.
Calman said devolution had now reached one of its most interesting points. 'It is a genuine opportunity to take stock of what the settlement has achieved to date and the challenges it may yet have to address in the years to come.' But he stressed that independence 'will not be an issue we will be discussing'.
Describing himself as being part of the UK 'but a Scot within that', he rejected suggestions that Brown was effectively in charge of the new body. He said: 'I would not have accepted this [post] if I felt this was something being driven from elsewhere.'
Tory leader Annabel Goldie said: 'Mainstream opinion in Scotland wants devolution to work better and for Scotland to be secure in a stronger UK – that is what this body is all about.'
PFmar2008
