Downing Street Says

Asked if the Prime Minister thought that people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should have a say in whether Scotland became independent, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister’s views on a referendum were very clear. If the Scottish Parliament voted for a referendum, then there would be one, but the Prime Minister was not in favour of independence.

On whether the Prime Minister thought that other parts of the UK should have a say, the PMS replied that she did not know what shape a referendum might take, if indeed there would be one and this was therefore a hypothetical question.

Asked whether the UK Parliament was the Supreme Parliament’ in this situation, the PMS replied that if the Scottish Parliament voted for a referendum then there would be one.

When asked if the people of Scotland should have to wait three years for a referendum, as Alex Salmond had suggested, the PMS said that it was a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

On whether the Prime Minister thought that a referendum would be a matter for the Scottish Parliament in a political sense or in a legal one, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister had said that if the Scottish Parliament wanted to hold a referendum, then he would campaign to keep the UK together with every single fibre that I have.’

Asked if the Prime Minister would see to it that the UK Parliament would allow a legally binding referendum to take place, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister had said that he would not put any obstacles in the way of a referendum.

Put that the Prime Minister would disagree with the views of people in the City who thought that an independent Scotland would be good for England economically, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister had been very clear about his views on keeping the UK together.

Asked if the Government was prepared to look again at the Scotland Bill and look at any amendments, the PMS referred journalists to the Prime Minister’s call with Alex Salmond on Friday. The Prime Minister’s view was that we would judge any amendments on whether they were in the best interests of the UK.

The PMS said that the Bill was based on a consensus over a long period of time, it was robust, and it would transfer some major new economic powers to the Scottish Parliament. The PMS added that it still represented the biggest transfer of financial power in the history of the Union.

Asked for the Prime Minister’s view on Alex Salmond’s comments that he’d like to have the power to reduce corporation tax, the PMS said that tax matters were a matter for the Chancellor, but advised journalists we would wait and see what proposals came forward. The Prime Minister had said that any changes would need to be in the best interests of the UK as a whole.

Asked if the Prime Minister thought that once it had gone through the UK Parliament, the Scotland Bill would need legislative consent from the Scottish Parliament, the PMS said that it was a Bill of the UK Parliament.

On whether the Prime Minister thought that a referendum was entirely a matter for the Scottish authorities, the PMS replied that it was.

Asked whether the Prime Minister believed that there was now a mandate to open the Scotland Bill, the PMS referred journalists to what was briefed out on Friday evening; the Prime Minister would judge any changes or expansions in the Bill on whether they were in the best interests of the whole of the UK.

Asked if there were any plans for the Prime Minister to meet the First Minister, the PMS replied that they had spoken on the phone on Friday and the Prime Minister looked forward to meeting him at the next opportunity.

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» Monday, May 9, 2011

Scotland

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