'Where's the beef?' — David Cameron urged to clarify 'further powers' if Scotland opts to remain in Union
David Cameron has been challenged to ''spell out'' what extra powers Scotland could receive as an alternative to independence.
Alex Salmond, David Cameron and Michael Moore meeting in Edinburgh.
- By David Clegg, political editor
- Published in the Courier : 17.02.12
- Published online : 17.02.12 @ 11.33am
The Prime Minister faced calls to clarify his position after he used a speech in Edinburgh on Thursday to pledge further devolution is ''on the table'' if Scots vote to remain in the United Kingdom.
The significant development, which marked a shift in Tory policy, would give voters the option of constitutional change without the need to end the 300-year Union.
But Mr Cameron would not be drawn on the details of the increased settlement for the Scottish Parliament, insisting that was a matter for after the independence question has been settled.
Instead he repeated calls for Alex Salmond to bring forward the date of the crunch referendum planned for autumn 2014 and insisted only one question should appear on the ballot paper.
''This doesn't have to be the end of the road,'' said the Prime Minister, who had visited the Quaker Oats factory in Cupar earlier in the day. ''When the referendum on independence is over, I am open to looking at how the devolved settlement can be improved. And yes, that means considering what further powers could be devolved.
''But that must be a question for after the referendum, when Scotland has made its choice about the fundamental question of independence or the United Kingdom,'' he added.
The comments were immediately dismissed by Mr Salmond, the First Minister, who demanded more detail and asked: ''Where's the beef?''
He added: ''If the Prime Minister has an offer to make to the people of Scotland he should make it now, he should spell it out now.''
Speaking after meeting Mr Cameron to discuss the referendum plans at Scottish Government headquarters, Mr Salmond said the public needed to know what extra powers were available.
''The Prime Minister is now saying for the first time that another option is now on the table,'' he said. ''What I said to the Prime Minister in the discussions is ... we now have to know what it will be.''
The First Minister spoke of the run-up to the 1979 devolution referendum, when Sir Alec Douglas-Home promised a Tory government would introduce a better Scottish Assembly.
He said: ''Scotland, I don't believe, will be fooled twice.''
However, Mr Cameron pointed out his Coalition Government had already delivered more devolution to Holyrood through the Scotland Bill.
''I will stand on my record,'' he said. ''The decentralisation of power is one of the core aims of the Coalition Government.''
Meanwhile, Scotland Secretary Michael Moore — a Liberal Democrat MP — said his party are ''under way'' with deciding what new powers for the Scottish Parliament could be.
''The alternative is not the status quo, it's actually about deciding what other powers Scotland should have within the UK,'' he said.
Photo by David Cheskin/PA Wire
12.42pm - 17.02.2012 Stuart Allan - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Aye right, we're just supposed to take it on trust the Tories will keep their word on this. It is total hypocrisy to demand every "i" be dotted and "t" crossed from indie supporters but reveal absolutely nothing of their own post referendum plans. How low an opinion of Scots do the Tories have?
02.06pm - 17.02.2012 Max - Tayside, Scotland Report This
Cameron knows little about devolution. He said the Scotland Bill will for the first time allow the Scottish Parliament to set taxes. The Scots voted for tax varying powers in the 1997 referendum. Oh dear!
03.01pm - 17.02.2012 Alasdair MacKenzie - Livingston, Scotland Report This
Cameron intended to appeal to a Scottish audience but instead addressed his sentiments to his Middle England Tory supporters and going by this morning's unionist press he got it just right - for them. When will he understand that we scots fo not share his Tory values.
07.06pm - 17.02.2012 Morris Young - edinburgh, scotland Report This
What will be offered relies upon the strength of the independence vote, and it will be as little as possible, forget FFA , what we will get is Scottish Fiscal Autonomy aka SFA .The choice is simple ALL or NOTHING ! Independence or Sweet Francis Adams
07.36pm - 17.02.2012 Christian Allard - Westhill, Aberdeenshire Report This
The Lib Dems all at sea ..."party are 'under way' with deciding what new powers for the Scottish Parliament could be".. The people of Scotland will decide, not some unelected Lib Dem lords and a few Scottish MPs elected on a "Keep the Tories Out" ticket.
11.41pm - 17.02.2012 R.G. - Angus, Scotland Report This
S.N.P. Supporters have a hardneck criticising Cameron or a supposed lack f detail. Where's Salmond's detail for his plans? He's had more than 5 years yet still we wait.
07.13pm - 18.02.2012 Alasdair - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Morris, such scaremongering. The YES camp can obviously see that things are moving further and further away, hence the scare stories. Scotland needs more than just this negativity, putting forward the benefits of leaving Britain would do.
01.01pm - 19.02.2012 Max - Tayside, Scotland Report This
Beware Tories offering jam tomorrow. As Scots learnt with Thatcher all we got was an empty jam jar. Voting NO in the 2014 referendum will mean more empty promises, more punitive action against Scotland by Westminster, more social unrest. For Scotland to have a psitive future we need to vote YES.
03.13pm - 19.02.2012 Bill Connor - tayport, scotland Report This
r.g. you are obviously on the internet...so how about using it..go to numerous websites and you will see the plans..so you can stop waiting and do some research. just as an example try to google snp.org or national conversation..btw the Scotland bill takes powers away from Scotland.
09.03pm - 21.02.2012 R.G. - Angus, Scotland Report This
Bill, a quick question. If Alex Salmond plans to save £1bn if we leave Britain, what is stopping him from doing it now, because he can yet doesn't.
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