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Leaders meet for first time since
election as Sturgeon denies second referendum claims. Image source: STV News
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Prime Minister David Cameron has arrived in Glasgow to meet Scottish
National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon. The Scottish
First Minister is warning of a second independence referendum if Cameron fails
to deliver on devolution pledges.
Sturgeon shook hands with Cameron on
the steps of Bute House before heading inside to debate what powers should be
handed over.
In last week’s general election the
SNP devastated its rivals, securing 56 out of 59 contested parliamentary seats.
RT UK/STV News report:
In an effort to oppose austerity and
gain more powers for a devolved Scotland, Sturgeon will use her meeting with
Cameron to lay out her list of demands.
The list includes more control over
the minimum wage, welfare, national insurance contributions, commercial taxes
and equality policy.
The SNP leader has already warned
Cameron that if he doesn’t listen to her proposals the people of Scotland could
demand another independence referendum.
A senior SNP source has confirmed
they are prepared to push for another referendum without the prime minister’s
permission.
Cameron says he will remain
understanding and reasonable in the meeting but adds Sturgeon “must respect”
his role as PM.
He says he will agree to work with
the Scottish government for the “benefit of all the people of Scotland.”
Ahead of the meeting Cameron
confirmed the UK government will “remain true” to its promise to hand over
powers to Scotland agreed by last year’s 2014 Smith Commission on further
devolution.
The Smith Commission agreement would
only allow the Scottish government to set rates and bands of income tax and
give it control over £2.5 billion of welfare spending.
Cameron says it will be taken
forward in a new Scotland devolution bill in the first Queen’s Speech.
He will reject Sturgeon’s list of
demands for extra powers not laid out in the Smith Commission agreement.
“As more powers are devolved to
Scotland, it is time to move beyond the debate about process and focus on those
bread and butter issues that affect every family in our United Kingdom,” the
prime minister said.
Sturgeon says the proposals in the
Commission agreement are “only a good starting point.”
The SNP leader will tell Cameron the
general election results are solid proof that more powers must be handed to
Scotland.
The senior SNP source said Cameron
would not be able to refuse another demand for an independent vote. They
further claimed a second referendum would be won if it were to take place
tomorrow. It “only has to be won once” the source added.
However, a spokesman for Sturgeon
said these claims are “totally wrong,” adding there are “no such plans” to push
for another referendum.
“The position is crystal clear – the
general election was not a mandate for another referendum,” the spokesman said.
“There will only be another
referendum if and when the people of Scotland back such a proposal at a
Scottish parliament election,” he said.
“It is not for David Cameron or any
other single politician to try and dictate what Scotland’s future should be; it
will always be in the hand of the people,” he added.
Before the meeting, Sturgeon said
she is “looking forward” to serious and substantial talks with the prime
minister.
“Scotland expects these powers to be delivered,”
she said.
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