UK Government offers constructive consultation – Alex Salmond offers road block to a real referendum

The UK Government has today set out its position on the referendum on Scottish independence and launched a consultation designed to ensure that any referendum is fair, decisive and legal.

Commenting on the statement, Ruth Davidson said:

"What the UK Government is offering is to empower the Scottish people with the ability to hold a fair, legal and decisive referendum.

"We recognise the election result has given the SNP a mandate to hold a referendum, but it has to be one which cannot be challenged. Our constitutional future has to be decided by the Scottish people not the Scottish courts.

"Scotland has two Governments and we are keen to work with the SNP to ensure that a vote is held that is legally sound.

"We have taken a positive and constructive approach, it is now up to the Scottish Government to decide whether to engage in this process and make this happen.

"It is simply staggering that Alex Salmond, whose raison d'être is independence, is setting himself up to be the roadblock to a real referendum.

"His supporters must be wondering why he is rejecting something he has been campaigning for all his political life."

Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP said:

"This constant delay from the SNP is causing uncertainty in the business community and it's now time that Alex Salmond stopped running away from this issue.

"It's now clear that all parties, including the SNP, agree that we must have a referendum with a single question.

"It must also be one that involves the independent Electoral Commission, who were judged qualified enough to organise the recent AV vote and Welsh referendum for more powers.

"If Alex Salmond truly cares about giving the Scottish people their democratic say then he should just get on with organising a referendum.

"Let's not forget that he is not the only one who has a mandate from the Scottish people.

"In the 2010 General Election, more people voted for parties supporting the Coalition than Alex Salmond for First Minister in 2011.

"The time has now come for the people to be given their say."

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