By Steve Bargeton, political editor

WENDY ALEXANDER yesterday insisted she was not the problem as she tried to push the Scottish Government into a snap referendum on independence.

Inevitably the Scottish Labour leader’s astonishing policy U-turn on the issue dominated exchanges with Alex Salmond at First Minster’s Questions.

Ms Alexander was faced with laughter and jeers as she challenged Mr Salmond over her new-found pro-referendum stance.

She said she was giving Mr Salmond, a nationalist all his life, the chance to “resolve” the issue of Scottish independence—and asked, “Why won’t he take it?”

But the First Minister made it clear he intends sticking to his party’s manifesto pledge to bring forward a bill for a referendum in 2010 and not before.

He taunted her, saying, “Given the progress that Wendy Alexander has made in the last few days, who knows what side she’ll be campaigning on?”

Echoing the view of the employers’ body the CBI, Ms Alexander said that uncertainty over the issue is damaging Scotland.

“The uncertainty is damaging our country, and uncertainty costs jobs,” she said.

“I and my colleagues have therefore offered our support to bring this issue forward now.

“We believe that Scotland deserves a choice sooner rather than later.

“The First Minister tells us that over 80% of Scots want a referendum—so why are we still waiting?” Ms Alexander asked.

The First Minister said a survey of 648 business people last week found 39% more in favour of independence than a year ago, while 57.5% believed the SNP was doing a good job in power.

Ms Alexander said, “The First Minister has a statement next week on his programme for government.

“The question is simply: will he bring forward a referendum bill in next year’s legislative programme next week?”

Mr Salmond said, “While I would not say Wendy Alexander is the only problem the Labour party has, I think quite convincingly after the last few days that she is not the answer.”

The issue of Labour’s support for a referendum was also seized upon by the Scottish Tories and the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

“Who would have thought a Labour Prime Minister and a Scottish Labour leader would be the SNP’s greatest ally in breaking up Britain,” said Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie.

She said the future of Britain should not become “a vote on the unpopularity of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Wendy Alexander.”

Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen described Ms Alexander’s U-turn on a referendum as a “farcical floorshow.”

“Over the last year he has seen the Conservatives cosy up to him, backing his budget, supporting his key votes,” he said.

“Through thick or thin, for better or for worse, they were his best friends—until this week when the farcical floorshow that passes for the modern day Labour Party has come into view offering him on a silver tray the vote that he has spent his last 30 years in politics trying to achieve,” he added.