OPPOSITION PARTIES SCOTTISH INDEPENDANCE REFERENDUM CONFUSION CONTINUES.

OPPOSITION PARTIES SCOTTISH INDEPENDANCE REFERENDUM CONFUSION CONTINUES.

PEOPLE MUST BE GIVEN DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE

The SNP have today urged opposition parties to end their confusion and
support the Scottish people’s right to decide their countries future in a
referendum after Lord Ashdown criticised the Liberal Democrats refusal to
support a referendum on independence.

In a Scotsman interview today Lord Ashdown says in relation to Liberal
Democrat tactics after the 2007 election “I would not have ruled out a
referendum and I think it would have been a good time to hold it.”

SNP MSP Jamie Hepburn said;

“With the latest poll showing 38% of people support independence to only
40% against a referendum on Scotland’s independence is there to be won.

“With David Cameron changing Conservative policy and Labour’s confirmation
that they will not vote down a referendum bill it is now time for the
Liberal Democrats to work out their position and give people across
Scotland a say over their constitutional future.

“The SNP Government will bring forward a referendum bill in 2010 – the
challenge is to opposition parties to support the Scottish public and back
that referendum.

“As we watch the UK Government mismanaging our economy and building up
unsustainable debts after years of squandering Scotland’s resources it
becomes even more evident that with independence Scotland would be far
better placed to see out this recession and build a brighter economic
future for Scotland.”

What others have said lately, DAVID CAMERON TURNS TO SUPPORTING A REFERENDUM, I have always accepted that, if there was a majority that wanted to have a referendum, then a referendum should be held” Mail on Sunday 15 February 2009 DAVID CAMERON PREVIOUSLY HINTING AT SUPPORT FOR AN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM, "I would do whatever it takes to govern in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom and to try to make sure, that over time, that we can strengthen that United Kingdom. I would be prepared to consider anything to enable us to do that." Spectator, 10 February 2009 TAVISH SCOTT ON A MULTI OPTION REFERENDUM, “We will see what legislation the SNP comes forward with. I am not intuitively against making sure that people have a choice and opportunity to vote on these things, but I believe it should be for a strengthened Scotland within the UK.” Times, 26 August 2008 DUNCAN McNEIL MSP, CONVENER OF LABOUR’S HOLYROOD GROUP, ON INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM, “we are now in a position where, as a group, we will not vote down any Referendum Bill that comes into the Parliament.”