Scotland referendum: Salmond claims PM is trying to impose ¿London strings¿ on Scotland¿s issue

• Labour pledges to join forces with the Coalition to save the 300-year-old Union with England


• Scottish government furious at PM David Cameron's attempts to wrestle control back from First Minister Alex Salmond

By Suzannah Hills

Last updated at 3:36 PM on 10th January 2012

The leader of the Scottish National Party Alex Salmond has launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister - accusing him of trying to impose 'London string's on Scotland's referendum.

The Westminster coalition wants the vote on Scotland's independence to be held 'sooner rather than later' and is set to publish its own proposals for a referendum in the next few days alongside advice received by ministers on the legal implications of such a vote.

Mr Cameron insists the Government's plan would allow a 'fair, legal and decisive' resolution to the uncertainty'.

But his intervention was greeted with anger by the Scottish National Party (SNP), which accused London of trying to dictate to Scotland the terms of a referendum.

The Scottish National party and its leader Alex Salmond, pictured right accused Mr Cameron, pictured left, of dictating the terms of a referendum to Scotland

SNP leader Alex Salmond claimed David Cameron was behind an 'entirely unacceptable Tory attempt to impose London strings on Scotland's referendum.

His statement comes as Scottish secretary Michael Moore is expected to tell MPs today that the Westminster coalition wants the vote to be held as soon as possible but he will not set the Government's requested deadline of 18 months on the vote.

Mr Salmond said: 'The UK Government is in a state of total confusion.

'Overnight, yesterday's 18-month sunset clause had disappeared into the sunset, the coalition is riven with tensions and Westminster is backtracking in the face of the massive thumbs-down from opinion in Scotland to Tory interference in the Scottish democratic process.

Scotland's nationalist government reacted with fury yesterday to the Prime Minister's attempts to wrestle control back from First Minister Alex Salmond (pictured right)

'The issue is the entirely unacceptable Tory attempt to impose London strings on Scotland's referendum, from a Westminster Government with absolutely no mandate for these matters.'

He continued: 'n stark contrast to Westminster's disarray, the Scottish Government will continue with the orderly process of bringing forward the referendum in the second half of this Parliament.

'This afternoon the Cabinet will put the final touches to a consultation document setting out the Scottish Government's detailed proposals for the referendum, which will be published later this month.'

Mr Salmond is thought to want to conduct the poll in 2014 to coincide with the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, Scotland's most famous military victory over England.

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, pictured said a referendum should be held a in Scotland

It is understood he hopes resentment over Government austerity measures will be at a peak then.

Government legal advice published today will confirm an independence referendum can only be legally valid if both Westminster and Holyrood parliaments agree to it going ahead.

A senior Government source last night said the offer to the SNP will include four key requirements – a 'sunset clause', to ensure the referendum is held sooner rather  than later; a simple 'yes/no' question to ensure Mr Salmond does not attempt a second question on 'independence lite'; oversight by the independent Electoral Commission; and no vote for anyone aged 16 and 17.

The source suggested that the Government may order a referendum itself if Mr Salmond drags his feet and refuses to hold a ballot.  

Mr Cameron, who has ordered Chancellor George Osborne to take charge of the campaign to save the Union, said he was not trying to 'dictate' to Scotland. 

But he insisted the current uncertainty was damaging Scotland's economy, with businesses unsure whether to invest because of the question marks over its future. 

'I think it is at least rational to put to the Scottish people, would it be better to have a more fair and decisive question put earlier?' the Prime Minister said. 

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said last night: 'We want the referendum to be held as quickly as possible and we want it to be run in Scotland. If these proposals help there to be a quick, clear and decisive result we would welcome them.'

As senior Labour figures signalled their backing for David Cameron's high-risk attempt to force Holyrood to hold an independence referendum quickly, Government sources said Scotland's future in the EU would be a central issue.

Constitutional experts believe an independent Scotland would be forced to reapply for EU membership – and, like all new members, would have to commit to joining the ill-fated single currency.

But Dr Jo Murkens, senior lecturer in law at the London School of Economics, said claims the country could remain in the EU and keep the pound were 'bizarre'.

'Continued membership would only be possible with the approval of all 27 member states,' she said. 'An independent Scotland would have to join the EU as a new accession state, which could take years.

'All the new member states are legally obliged to adopt the euro at some future point.'

Source : dailymail

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