'They can't agree what they agreed' — Alex Salmond and Michael Moore make little progress in independence referendum talks
Scotland's independence referendum remains mired in uncertainty after a crunch meeting between First Minister Alex Salmond and Scotland Secretary Michael Moore failed to deliver any real progress.
It was all smiles as Alex Salmond and Michael Moore met, but they soon clashed on the independence referendum details.
- By David Clegg, political editor
- Published in the Courier : 14.02.12
- Published online : 14.02.12 @ 01.02pm
The two are still at odds over how the poll should be conducted despite almost two hours of discussions in Edinburgh on Monday.
The UK and Scottish Governments are still split on the timing, the number of questions and who should be allowed to vote in the historic poll Mr Salmond plans to hold in autumn 2014.
After the meeting Mr Salmond told reporters there was no longer a ''serious argument'' on the question of the timing — a claim denied by Mr Moore.
Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said it was telling the two men could not even ''agree what they agreed''.
But both men did confirm disagreements over whether a second question on more powers for the Scottish Parliament should appear on the ballot paper and if the franchise should be extended to 16- and 17-year-olds.
However, progress did appear to have been made on the role of the Electoral Commission in overseeing the referendum.
Mr Salmond said the meeting, held at Scottish Government headquarters, had brought ''modest progress''.
He added: ''I suspect the key points of disagreement have been identified as one or two questions and 16- and 17-year-olds voting.''
The First Minister said he did not expect much more progress on those issues until after the separate consultations being staged by Holyrood and Westminster had closed. But he said it was ''useful that it was clarified today that the Westminster Government were willing to listen to their consultation on these matters''.
He reiterated that the Scottish Government has an ''open mind'' on whether the so-called devo-max option should appear on the ballot paper, and is ''favourable'' to the extension of the vote.
On the issue of timing, he added: ''There are different views, of course, on the timescale that the Scottish Government has set out. I don't think that is a serious argument any more.''
The First Minister said this matter, together with the issue of what role the Electoral Commission would play in the referendum, was ''more or less settled''.
But Mr Moore insisted the timing question remained unsolved, saying he sees ''no reason'' why the vote could not be held as early as next year.
He added: ''The key point is the technical issues that are deemed to be in the way at the moment, which I don't think are insurmountable, and the broader debate as part of the consultation about what is best for people in Scotland. I think sooner rather than later is best.''
The Liberal Democrat MP added that he was under the impression that September 2014 is the preferred timescale for the Scottish Government.
On the potential for multiple questions, he said: ''We think there are some very serious issues about that, in broad terms, about the decisiveness of the question, if you have more than one, but also just technicalities about how one might interpret the result.''
Mr Salmond is now due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron in Edinburgh on Thursday to further discuss the referendum.
Ms Lamont called for the debate to move on from process issues to the pros and cons of independence.
''If we are continuing to debate the timetable, the franchise and the wording of the question, then we are not talking about the things that matter to people,'' she said.
04.21pm - 14.02.2012 Max - Tayside, Scotland Report This
Michael Moore can't say what he has agreed to because he hasn't been told yet by David Cameron. Once that is resolved both parties can move on.
07.26am - 16.02.2012 Eric W. - Dundee, Scotland U.K. Report This
Sorry, but this is just yet another diversion by Mr Salmond from his hand wringing on the economy. Meetings, announcement, but no action. Jim Sillars got it right, Mr Salmond is cosy with his lot and has become content with power.
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