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ALEX Salmond (Scotland’s first minister) insisted last night that the current devolution settlement was “no longer an option” as he prepared to publish his long-awaited white paper on independence. The aim of the paper, which is understood to be called A National Conversation, is to build support for independence by persuading unionists that the Scottish Parliament needs more power.

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ALEX Salmond (Scotland’s first minister) insisted last night that the current devolution settlement was “no longer an option” as he prepared to publish his long-awaited white paper on independence.

The aim of the paper, which is understood to be called A National Conversation, is to build support for independence by persuading unionists that the Scottish Parliament needs more power.

The First Minister hopes that, by starting a national debate on the issue, he can begin to overcome the huge opposition to independence within the parliament.

Mr Salmond promised before the election that he would publish a white paper on independence in the first 100 days of an SNP administration. With just ten days to go until he reaches that milestone, Mr Salmond will fulfil that pledge tomorrow.

But, instead of being a simple document setting out the question which the SNP government wants to put to the people in a referendum, the white paper will be much broader and more consensual than anticipated.

It will acknowledge the range of views on Scotland’s constitutional future held by his opponents and call for a national debate to find the most acceptable way forward - whether that is complete independence or just the devolution of more powers to the parliament.

In part, the government has adopted this gradualist approach because it does not have a parliamentary majority so has no chance of getting its plans into law.

But it is also a reflection of Mr Salmond’s desire to use the white paper as a catalyst, to spark debate around the country in an attempt to win over Scots who would not have contemplated independence in the past.

The First Minister yesterday made it clear he believed that change, of some form, was coming for Scotland.

Mr Salmond said: “The idea that we are happy with the range of powers we have at the moment is totally belied by the election result and the election campaign, when the only party - the only party - putting forward that position was the Labour Party and they lost their first election in Scotland for 50 years. I would argue that no change is no longer an option.”

Mr Salmond was keen to stress that the white paper would offer a range of options, inviting non-nationalists to get involved.

He said: “This white paper will start a national conversation with the people that will offer the choices facing Scotland. It will provide the arguments and set out the various positions in which I intend the people of Scotland to participate and hopefully at some point in the not too distant future, to choose that future.

“We have had various arguments in various polls about independence, but what there is no argument about is the idea of having a referendum. This is hugely popular, overwhelmingly popular.

“Around 80 per cent back the idea of having a government which allows the people to decide their own future as a country.”

The decision to make the white paper much broader in scope is clearly designed to win over Liberal Democrats who want more powers for the parliament, but who oppose independence.

But Mike Rumbles, a Lib Dem MSP, insisted last night that his party would have nothing to do with the white paper if it mentioned independence.

He said: “If independence is in there, we will have nothing to do with it at all, end of story. I am obviously keen for more powers to come to the parliament and we will do everything we can to achieve that. What we will not do is get involved with anything to do with an independence referendum.”thescotsman

, Voice of a Nation

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