FIRST Minister Alex Salmond today challenged opponents of independence to put their alternative plan to the voters in a referendum.
And he held out the prospect of a three-way choice where the electorate would be asked to rank separation, further devolution or keeping the status quo in order of preference.
Launching the second phase of the SNP's National Conversation on Scotl
and's constitutional future, Mr Salmond said there was a consensus that the current powers of the Scottish Parliament were not enough. But he warned any bid to hand powers back to Westminster was a "non-starter."
Speaking to an audience of around 120 leaders of "Civic Scotland" at Edinburgh University's Pollock Halls, he said since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament had been decided by a referendum, any major change to devolution also required a referendum. Yesterday, the opposition parties at Holyrood launched their Scottish Constitutional Commission chaired by former chief medical officer Sir Kenneth Calman, to look at more powers for the Parliament.
Mr Salmond said: "There is a broad acceptance across the entire political spectrum that what we have is not enough and that Scotland wants, needs and desires greater decision-making responsibility vested in our Parliament.
"I have already said as First Minister I am happy to test support for enhanced devolution alongside support for independence."
And he continued: "I say to those who oppose the restoration of Scottish independence that just as I respect absolutely their right to hold that view, so in return I feel able to require of them a clear alternative which can be put on a ballot paper and held up to public scrutiny and be available for decision by the Scottish people."
During a question and answer session with the audience, which included representatives from Scotland's universities, businesses, trade unions, churches and voluntary groups, Mr Salmond indicated he was happy to consider three options on the referendum ballot paper – independence, enhanced devolution and the status quo.
He said if such a referendum were held, voters would be asked to rank the options in order of preference by writing one, two or three against them.
He added: "I'm pretty confident people in Scotland could manage three choices on a ballot paper."
Mr Salmond said the plan was to introduce legislation for a referendum in 2010 and hold the vote before the next Scottish Parliament elections in 2011.
He said: "The people of Scotland are sovereign. The Scottish Parliament is their parliament. The right to choose the future of this country is the people of Scotland's right."
He said he hoped the National Conversation would come to "the right conclusion" but added: "The debate in itself is a good thing."
The full article contains 453 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
