By Domenica Goduto
Tavish Scott, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrat party, caused confusion this weekend after he made an apparent about-face regarding his party’s views on the SNP‘s proposed independence referendum.
Yesterday, 15th March, Scott told supporters at the Scottish Liberal Dem conference in Perth that the Scottish Government must ditch its plans to hold a referendum on independence and focus instead on the country’s economic recovery.
He stated, “You cannot waste taxpayers’ money, government time and parliamentary debates on a cause that the country doesn’t want and the economy can’t bear.
“Ditch the referendum. Forget the spin and politics of the independence panto.
“Put the needs of Scotland before the interests of the SNP.”
Scott also claimed that the ongoing banking crisis is the Prime Minister’s fault. “The banking shambles is Labour‘s shambles, Gordon Brown’s shambles,” he said. He accuses Brown of “fixing” the Lloyds takeover of HBOS, when he feels that the Scottish bank should have remained independent.
The attack came just one day after Scott revealed in an interview that he would not rule out a future referendum. “I don’t think I should rule out a referendum for all time because I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he told the BBC.
Asked about the possibility of his party forming a coalition with the SNP, Scott replied that, “It could be a possibility.”
These statements have raised speculation as to whether the referendum may yet take place, despite the Government’s previous attempts having already been voted down by the Scottish Parliament.
The Lib Dems have traditionally opposed the question of independence, refusing previously to enter into a coalition with the SNP unless the Nationalists abandon their referendum plans.
However, some Lib Dems are now calling to reconsider that position, a reassessment which could lead to cooperation between the SNP and the Lib Dems in the 2011 election.
Scott claims that for now his party’s top priority is fixing the economy and supporting Scottish voters who are struggling in the recession.
“This party will work every hour on the needs of people, businesses and families,” he said.
“We will work every day to build practical help for people now, when they need it most.
“Liberal Democrats are ready to rebuild the jobs, homes and hope destroyed by this recession.”
SNP Home Affairs spokesperson Pete Wishart MP observed, “There have now been so many Lib Dem U-turns on a referendum that they must be just as dizzy as labour.
“The economic downturn demonstrates the need for Scotland to have the economic muscle and financial powers to combat recession.
“The need for Scotland to have the powers of independence are even more acute now.”
Scott’s attack is the latest in a string of setbacks for the Government. A recent survey conducted by the Government itself revealed that a majority of Scottish voters do not back the SNP’s plan to block the construction of new nuclear power plants in Scotland. 53% of respondants would support a turn to nuclear power, while only 23 % would oppose it.
Meanwhile, the results of a YouGov poll conducted for The Sunday Times show that support for Labour has overtaken that for the SNP for the first time in two years. The SNP is still ahead in the constituency vote, with 35 per cent versus Labour’s 34 per cent, but Labour’s 32 per cent on the regional vote beats the SNP’s 30 per cent. This would amount to 49 seats for Labour versus 44 for the SNP.