SNP set to publish plans for independence referendum
BayBak, Azerbaijan | Saturday, 28th July , 2007 , 00:33 [am] | International
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. | PLANS for a referendum on independence will be published within two weeks, Alex Salmond, the First Minister, confirmed yesterday, triggering a chorus of criticism from opposition parties.
The Scottish National Party pledged to publish the document within 100 days of coming to power, but political opponents yesterday warned |
PLANS for a referendum on independence will be published within two weeks, Alex Salmond, the First Minister, confirmed yesterday, triggering a chorus of criticism from opposition parties.
The Scottish National Party pledged to publish the document within 100 days of coming to power, but political opponents yesterday warned that working on the draft would be a waste of civil servants’ time.
A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: “We have moved rapidly to deliver a whole series of policy initiatives on health, transport and other areas.
“Our first 100 days’ commitment also includes the publishing of a white paper on independence, which will serve as the basis for a national conversation with the people of Scotland” .
Speaking to the BBC during a visit to London, Mr Salmond conceded that the minority SNP Executive “had some persuading to do” to win a majority vote at Holyrood. But his critics accused him of neglecting bread-and-butter issues, such as schools and hospitals, in favour of stoking up controversy on independence.
George Foulkes, a Labour MSP, said the plans demonstrated the SNP’s “failure to listen to the overwhelming views of the Scottish public”, as there was little appetite for independence.
Nicol Stephen, the Liberal Democrats’ leader in Scotland, branded the white paper a waste of public money and civil service time. David McLetchie, the Scottish Conservatives’ chief whip, said there was no appetite for the “disruption and uncertainty” that a referendum would cause.
A source close to the First Minister dismissed the criticism as “carping from the sidelines” from London parties “swept away” by the pace of the SNP administration.scotsman
, Voice of a Nation
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