David Cameron rejected a trio of core SNP demands during 'frank' face-to-face talks with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh yesterday.
The Prime Minister ruled out granting Scotland a second independence referendum and also refused Nicola Sturgeon's request for a Scotland veto on his promise of an in-out EU referendum by the end of 2017.
Ms Sturgeon has said that if the UK votes to leave the EU in the referendum, and a majority of Scots back staying in, that could trigger a second Scottish independence referendum.
She has also called for a veto for Scotland – as well as England, Wales and Northern Ireland – so the UK could not leave the EU without the agreement of all four.
But Mr Cameron dismissed this as hypocritical. 'We put forward in our manifesto the clearest possible pledge of an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. That has now been backed in a UK General Election and I believe I have a mandate for that,' he said.
'Rather in the same way the SNP felt they had a mandate for their referendum, they didn't give Orkney, Shetland and the Borders an opt-out.'
He also flatly rejected giving Holyrood full control over tax and spending north of the border - a key SNP demand.
Mr Cameron told the SNP leader he would consider further devolution to Scotland in the future - but not until the package of measures already agreed had been delivered.
Ms Sturgeon welcomed the Prime Minister to her official residence at Bute House, Edinburgh, with a demand for sweeping new powers above and beyond what was agreed by the 'Smith Commission' after last year's referendum campaign.
Under the proposals, agreed by the SNP and all the major Westminster parties, the Scottish Parliament will be given more control over tax and spending but not 'full fiscal autonomy'.
In the meeting today, Mr Cameron said he was open to the possibility of granting further powers to Holyrood, but warned the Smith Commission proposals must be implemented first.
No, No, No! Cameron slaps down Sturgeon's demands over tax and the EU and tells her to forget about another referendum
Prime Minister travelled to Edinburgh for face-to-face talks with SNP chief
Cameron ruled out a second referendum or giving Edinburgh an EU veto
He also refused to grant Holyrood immediate new powers other than those already agreed in the wake of the referendum last year
However, the PM agreed to look at granting further powers in the future
Ms Sturgeon said the offer did not go far enough following the election
By Tom McTague, Deputy Political Editor for MailOnline and Gareth Rose for the Daily Mail
15 May 2015
Daily Mail
David Cameron rejected a trio of core SNP demands during 'frank' face-to-face talks with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh today.
The Prime Minister ruled out granting Scotland a second independence referendum or giving the country a veto over Britain's place in the European Union. He also flatly rejected giving Holyrood full control over tax and spending north of the border - a key SNP demand.
Mr Cameron told the SNP leader he would consider further devolution to Scotland in the future - but not until the package of measures already agreed had been delivered.
The Prime Minister held talks with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - alongside the new Scottish Secretary David Mundell (second left) and Deputy Scottish First Minister John Swinney (second right)
David Cameron met SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at her official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh this morning
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon greeted Mr Cameron, as he arrives for their meeting in Edinburgh
Bute House in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, is the official residence of the Scottish First Minister
Ms Sturgeon welcomed the Prime Minister to her official residence at Bute House, Edinburgh, with a demand for sweeping new powers above and beyond what was agreed by the 'Smith Commission' after last year's referendum campaign.
Under the proposals, agreed by the SNP and all the major Westminster parties, the Scottish Parliament will be given more control over tax and spending but not 'full fiscal autonomy'.
In the meeting today, Mr Cameron said he was open to the possibility of granting further powers to Holyrood, but warned the Smith Commission proposals must be implemented first.
With the Union in growing jeopardy he promised a closer working relationship between the Scottish and UK governments based around a 'respect agenda'.
But in a series of rebukes for the SNP he:
Promised to hold Alex Salmond to his 'once in generation' promise and refuse a second independence referendum.
Rejected SNP demands for full fiscal autonomy – control of all taxes – saying Scotland will need the UK's financial might following the oil price crash.
Refused Nicola Sturgeon's request for a Scotland veto on his promise of an in-out EU referendum by the end of 2017.
Warned the Smith Commission must be put into law before extra powers are discussed, putting it back years.
In the meeting today, Mr Cameron said he was open to the possibility of granting further powers to Holyrood, but warned the Smith Commission proposals must be implemented first
The Prime Minister left Bute House after talks with Nicola Sturgeon which lasted around an hour this morning
After the talks, Mr Cameron said he had had a 'very positive meeting' with the SNP leader.
He said: 'I made a commitment before the election, if I was the Prime Minister I would implement the Smith Commission report in full by introducing a Scotland Bill in the first Queen's Speech and I can confirm that is exactly what I will do.'
But he stressed that he did not support SNP demands for full fiscal autonomy, which would make the Scottish Parliament responsible for raising all the money it spends.
He said: 'I don't support full fiscal autonomy. I put it like this - Scotland has voted to stay part of the United Kingdom and I'm delighted about that.
'I want people in Scotland to know that the whole of the United Kingdom stands behind your pensions, stands behind unemployment benefit, will stand behind Scotland if it has a difficult year, if the oil price goes down.'
He said there was 'an honest disagreement' with Ms Sturgeon about the issue, but added: 'We will deliver the stronger Scottish Parliament, be in no doubt about it.'
While Mr Cameron appears open to considering further powers for Scotland, he said he did not believe a second independence referendum was 'remotely on the cards'.
While the prospect of a second referendum did not come up during the talks, Mr Cameron ruled out the prospect in a series of interviews after his meeting with Ms Sturgeon.
After the meeting Ms Sturgeon said her MPs would try to attach 'full fiscal autonomy' to the Scotland Bill enacting the Smith proposals, even though the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned it would blow a £7.6billion black hole in the country's finances following the oil price crash.
Last week, the SNP won 56 out of a Scotland's 59 seats, while the Tories stayed with one – new Scottish Secretary David Mundell.
David Cameron - arriving at Bute House in Edinburgh this morning - has promised a devolution Bill for Scotland in the Government's Queen's Speech in a fortnight
Mr Cameron and the Scottish First Minister met for the first time since the general election, in which it is expected increased powers for the Scottish Parliament will dominate the agenda
Miss Sturgeon has said that if the UK votes to leave the EU in a referendum, and a majority of Scots back staying in, that could trigger a second referendum
WHAT HAS CAMERON PROMISED... AND WHAT IS STURGEON STILL DEMANDING?
The Scottish Government has been promised a raft of new powers through the Smith Commission:
INCOME TAX
Full control of all rates and bands. This will allow MSPs to increase or lower the existing 20p, 40p and 45p rates, introduce new bands and set their own tax thresholds.
WELFARE
Devolution of the Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance (which helps pay personal care costs for elderly disabled Scots), Carer’s Allowance and the Motability scheme that enables disabled people to lease a new car.
AIR PASSENGER DUTY
Devolution of the so-called ‘tourism tax’. The charge is levied on departures from British airports and the UK is one of only five European countries to impose such a tax
ELECTIONS
The power over Scottish elections and the Scottish parliament’s electoral rules. This will allow MSPs to lower the voting age in Holyrood contests to 16, as it was in September’s independence referendum, and extend (or cut) the four-year parliamentary term.
FURTHER SNP DEMANDS
Employment policy, the minimum wage, all welfare, business taxes, national insurance and equality policy – and full fiscal autonomy, where Scotland seizes control of all taxes
Ms Sturgeon has said the Prime Minister must take note and build on his devolution offer, which she called a 'starting point'. But he indicated any further powers would be some way off, especially as powers recommended by the previous Calman Commission were not yet in place.
'What we agreed was first of all let's implement Smith, make sure it really is Smith. We're looking at welfare and making sure the clauses reflect what that agreement was,' Mr Cameron said.
'But I think there's a problem, we haven't yet implemented Calman, let alone implement Smith. We haven't got the tax powers coming in April 2016, so let's implement that so people can see the massive power over tax and spending that the Scottish Parliament will have.'
However, he added: 'The First Minister wants to send some proposals for me to look at, I'm quite happy to look at proposals. I don't rule out making other changes if sensible suggestions are made.'
Ms Sturgeon has said that if the UK votes to leave the EU in a referendum, and a majority of Scots back staying in, that could trigger a second referendum.
She has called for a veto for Scotland – as well as England, Wales and Northern Ireland – so the UK could not leave the EU without the agreement of all four.
But Mr Cameron dismissed this as hypocritical. 'We put forward in our manifesto the clearest possible pledge of an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. That has now been backed in a UK General Election and I believe I have a mandate for that,' he said.
'Rather in the same way the SNP felt they had a mandate for their referendum, they didn't give Orkney, Shetland and the Borders an opt-out.'
Miss Sturgeon described the meeting as 'constructive and business-like'.
'Two things of significance were agreed at the meeting,' she said.
'Firstly, there was a commitment from the Prime Minister that the legislation that they will shortly introduce to the Westminster parliament to implement the proposals of the Smith Commission will implement those proposals in full.
'We had a report of a Scottish Parliament committee yesterday which said that where they have got to thus far doesn't fully implement the Smith Commission proposals.
'So, there is a commitment to do that, and we will make sure that happens.
'Secondly, I have said we will put forward proposals for devolution further than the Smith Commission proposals.
'The Prime Minister has said they would consider those proposals.
'I am not going to put words in his mouth and say he has agreed any specific proposals, but there is an agreement to look at that and there will be a meeting with Deputy First Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland to take that discussion forward.'
She added: 'I want Scotland to have full fiscal autonomy, David Cameron doesn't, but what we said in our manifesto was that there were priority powers over and above the Smith Commission that we wanted to see devolved.
'So, what we are talking about are business taxes and employment legislation, the minimum wage and more powers over welfare.'
Today's historic meeting comes after Ms Sturgeon was forced to slap down a 'senior SNP source' who claimed a second independence referendum could be called without UK-wide agreement.
The Prime Minister held talks with the Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson (left), a leading figure in the NO campaign during the independence referendum, after his meeting with Nicola Sturgeon
In his meeting with the SNP, Mr Cameron said he was open to the possibility of granting further powers to Holyrood
The senior party source in Westminster said Scots, who rejected independence last September, would choose to leave the UK if a vote was held tomorrow, adding: 'You only have to win once.'
If Westminster refused to allow another referendum, Holyrood could simply hold one unilaterally and declare secession if it returns a 'yes' vote, the source suggested.
But a spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said the bombshell claim was 'totally wrong' and reiterated that there were 'no plans' for a second poll, despite last week's landslide general election victory for the SNP in Scotland.
David Cameron can only save the Union by hugging Nicola Sturgeon close
The SNP joining the British establishment may be the Union's best hope
Cameron meets up with Sturgeon Photo: Getty Images
By Allan Massie
15 May 2015
The Telegraph
520 Comments
The question of a second Independence referendum hung unnecessarily over the meeting between David Cameron and Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh. It needn’t have done so, but it was provoked by Cameron’s assertion that the matter was settled and that he would not consent to a second round. Technically of course he is right. The Scotland Act which set up the Scottish Parliament reserved constitutional matters to Westminster.
Since, however, there is no immediate prospect of another referendum, and Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly made it clear that the General Election wasn’t about independence and the word “referendum” was missing from the SNP’s manifesto, the Prime Minister might more wisely have accepted that it was a sleeping dog, and said nothing to disturb it.
Ms Sturgeon is instead pressing for more powers to be devolved to Scotland, and some of her demands such as more control over welfare and the level of the minimum wage may be acceptable to Cameron. Welfare, after all, is a matter on which Labour and the SNP tend to do better than the Conservatives - so why not hand control to Edinburgh and see what the SNP makes of it? The temptation is obvious.
On the other hand none of this is urgent. It would indeed be sensible to see how the recommendations of the Smith Commission work out once they are put in practice. The Prime Minister is unlikely to make further Scottish reform a priority. The imminent EU negotiations and the consequent referendum on our continued membership are going to occupy him more over the coming months. It might incidentally be sensible to invite the SNP to nominate a member for his negotiating team, or at least grant the party observer status.
After all it’s widely assumed that Cameron will campaign for staying in the EU, and the SNP will be on the same side in that referendum. Nicola Sturgeon might be shy of standing on the same platform as Cameron, but, over the EU, they are likely to be singing the same tune.
The SNP is now by some way the third biggest party in the House of Commons, having won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats. Even more than the Conservatives in England it benefited from the first-past-the-post electoral system. Those Scottish Unionists who point out, correctly, that this triumph was achieved on only a couple of decimal points more than 50 per cent of the vote should recognize that this represents a much higher share of the popular vote than the Conservatives got in the UK. So the SNP’s legitimacy can’t be questioned.
Their strength in the Commons gives them the opportunity to be noisy, difficult and obstructive. But that’s all. They are in Opposition, not , as they hoped, propping up a minority Labour Government and holding it to ransom. So they are less influential than they thought they might be. There’s no prospect of Alex Salmond writing Labour’s Budget; the next budget will be George Osborne’s , and there’s nothing the SNP can do about that.
On the other hand, if David Cameron is sincere in his expressed determination to preserve the Union, then the result of the election in Scotland must be respected, and the SNP’s legitimate role in the Commons recognized. It should be given a good representation on Commons committees - perhaps a couple of chairmanships, and a fair crack at Prime Minister’s Questions.
It may sound strange, but the best way to treat the SNP at Westminster is with sympathy and generosity, rather than regarding it as a rogue element there. If its sizeable presence in the Commons is seen to benefit Scotland, then the attraction of Separatism is likely at least to be diluted. The more the SNP is eased into UK politics, the better.
Actually the SNP has made a gesture in this direction, one which suggests that it is more likely to see its role as constructive than destructive. Its Westminster leader is the eminently sensible Angus Robertson, not the more wayward Alex Salmond, who has been shunted aside and given a Foreign Affairs brief. Apart from the fact that Robertson is now an old Commons hand, his appointment makes it clear that the SNP has only one leader; Nicola Sturgeon. Salmond isn’t going to be a back-seat driver. Ms Sturgeon is in charge, even though she is not an MP, and the Party’s discipline is severe. Going off-message won’t be tolerated.
As to the prospect - or danger - of a second Independence referendum, it is quite likely that the SNP manifesto for next year’s Scottish Election will make a provision for one. But it will be heavily qualified by some such phrase as “in certain circumstances” or “if thought appropriate”. Nicola Sturgeon is unlikely to go for one unless she is sure of winning. In the past she has spoken of the test being opinion polls consistently showing 60 per cent in favour of independence. This isn’t likely - as things stand. It might happen, however, if there was a UK majority in favour of leaving the EU while Scotland voted to stay.
It’s more probable that Sturgeon and the SNP will prefer to advance towards their ultimate goal, salami-style, by accruing ever greater powers at Holyrood. At some point the SNP might even see the merit of a Constitutional Convention which opened the door to a reconstruction of the UK on a federal, or quasi-federal, basis.
For the time being however independence is on the back-burner. If Cameron plays his cards cleverly and treats Scotland with sympathy and understanding, it may remain there for a very long time, if not for ever. The SNP’s election triumph offers the prospect, paradoxical as it may seem, of bringing the SNP into the body of the kirk, accommodating it within the British political system. This, for the moment at least, is the best hope for the Union.
David Cameron can only save the Union by hugging Nicola Sturgeon close - Telegraph
The Prime Minister ruled out granting Scotland a second independence referendum and also refused Nicola Sturgeon's request for a Scotland veto on his promise of an in-out EU referendum by the end of 2017.
Ms Sturgeon has said that if the UK votes to leave the EU in the referendum, and a majority of Scots back staying in, that could trigger a second Scottish independence referendum.
She has also called for a veto for Scotland – as well as England, Wales and Northern Ireland – so the UK could not leave the EU without the agreement of all four.
But Mr Cameron dismissed this as hypocritical. 'We put forward in our manifesto the clearest possible pledge of an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. That has now been backed in a UK General Election and I believe I have a mandate for that,' he said.
'Rather in the same way the SNP felt they had a mandate for their referendum, they didn't give Orkney, Shetland and the Borders an opt-out.'
He also flatly rejected giving Holyrood full control over tax and spending north of the border - a key SNP demand.
Mr Cameron told the SNP leader he would consider further devolution to Scotland in the future - but not until the package of measures already agreed had been delivered.
Ms Sturgeon welcomed the Prime Minister to her official residence at Bute House, Edinburgh, with a demand for sweeping new powers above and beyond what was agreed by the 'Smith Commission' after last year's referendum campaign.
Under the proposals, agreed by the SNP and all the major Westminster parties, the Scottish Parliament will be given more control over tax and spending but not 'full fiscal autonomy'.
In the meeting today, Mr Cameron said he was open to the possibility of granting further powers to Holyrood, but warned the Smith Commission proposals must be implemented first.
No, No, No! Cameron slaps down Sturgeon's demands over tax and the EU and tells her to forget about another referendum
Prime Minister travelled to Edinburgh for face-to-face talks with SNP chief
Cameron ruled out a second referendum or giving Edinburgh an EU veto
He also refused to grant Holyrood immediate new powers other than those already agreed in the wake of the referendum last year
However, the PM agreed to look at granting further powers in the future
Ms Sturgeon said the offer did not go far enough following the election
By Tom McTague, Deputy Political Editor for MailOnline and Gareth Rose for the Daily Mail
15 May 2015
Daily Mail
David Cameron rejected a trio of core SNP demands during 'frank' face-to-face talks with Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh today.
The Prime Minister ruled out granting Scotland a second independence referendum or giving the country a veto over Britain's place in the European Union. He also flatly rejected giving Holyrood full control over tax and spending north of the border - a key SNP demand.
Mr Cameron told the SNP leader he would consider further devolution to Scotland in the future - but not until the package of measures already agreed had been delivered.
The Prime Minister held talks with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - alongside the new Scottish Secretary David Mundell (second left) and Deputy Scottish First Minister John Swinney (second right)
David Cameron met SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at her official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh this morning
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon greeted Mr Cameron, as he arrives for their meeting in Edinburgh
Bute House in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, is the official residence of the Scottish First Minister
Ms Sturgeon welcomed the Prime Minister to her official residence at Bute House, Edinburgh, with a demand for sweeping new powers above and beyond what was agreed by the 'Smith Commission' after last year's referendum campaign.
Under the proposals, agreed by the SNP and all the major Westminster parties, the Scottish Parliament will be given more control over tax and spending but not 'full fiscal autonomy'.
In the meeting today, Mr Cameron said he was open to the possibility of granting further powers to Holyrood, but warned the Smith Commission proposals must be implemented first.
With the Union in growing jeopardy he promised a closer working relationship between the Scottish and UK governments based around a 'respect agenda'.
But in a series of rebukes for the SNP he:
Promised to hold Alex Salmond to his 'once in generation' promise and refuse a second independence referendum.
Rejected SNP demands for full fiscal autonomy – control of all taxes – saying Scotland will need the UK's financial might following the oil price crash.
Refused Nicola Sturgeon's request for a Scotland veto on his promise of an in-out EU referendum by the end of 2017.
Warned the Smith Commission must be put into law before extra powers are discussed, putting it back years.
In the meeting today, Mr Cameron said he was open to the possibility of granting further powers to Holyrood, but warned the Smith Commission proposals must be implemented first
The Prime Minister left Bute House after talks with Nicola Sturgeon which lasted around an hour this morning
After the talks, Mr Cameron said he had had a 'very positive meeting' with the SNP leader.
He said: 'I made a commitment before the election, if I was the Prime Minister I would implement the Smith Commission report in full by introducing a Scotland Bill in the first Queen's Speech and I can confirm that is exactly what I will do.'
But he stressed that he did not support SNP demands for full fiscal autonomy, which would make the Scottish Parliament responsible for raising all the money it spends.
He said: 'I don't support full fiscal autonomy. I put it like this - Scotland has voted to stay part of the United Kingdom and I'm delighted about that.
'I want people in Scotland to know that the whole of the United Kingdom stands behind your pensions, stands behind unemployment benefit, will stand behind Scotland if it has a difficult year, if the oil price goes down.'
He said there was 'an honest disagreement' with Ms Sturgeon about the issue, but added: 'We will deliver the stronger Scottish Parliament, be in no doubt about it.'
While Mr Cameron appears open to considering further powers for Scotland, he said he did not believe a second independence referendum was 'remotely on the cards'.
While the prospect of a second referendum did not come up during the talks, Mr Cameron ruled out the prospect in a series of interviews after his meeting with Ms Sturgeon.
After the meeting Ms Sturgeon said her MPs would try to attach 'full fiscal autonomy' to the Scotland Bill enacting the Smith proposals, even though the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned it would blow a £7.6billion black hole in the country's finances following the oil price crash.
Last week, the SNP won 56 out of a Scotland's 59 seats, while the Tories stayed with one – new Scottish Secretary David Mundell.
David Cameron - arriving at Bute House in Edinburgh this morning - has promised a devolution Bill for Scotland in the Government's Queen's Speech in a fortnight
Mr Cameron and the Scottish First Minister met for the first time since the general election, in which it is expected increased powers for the Scottish Parliament will dominate the agenda
Miss Sturgeon has said that if the UK votes to leave the EU in a referendum, and a majority of Scots back staying in, that could trigger a second referendum
WHAT HAS CAMERON PROMISED... AND WHAT IS STURGEON STILL DEMANDING?
The Scottish Government has been promised a raft of new powers through the Smith Commission:
INCOME TAX
Full control of all rates and bands. This will allow MSPs to increase or lower the existing 20p, 40p and 45p rates, introduce new bands and set their own tax thresholds.
WELFARE
Devolution of the Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance (which helps pay personal care costs for elderly disabled Scots), Carer’s Allowance and the Motability scheme that enables disabled people to lease a new car.
AIR PASSENGER DUTY
Devolution of the so-called ‘tourism tax’. The charge is levied on departures from British airports and the UK is one of only five European countries to impose such a tax
ELECTIONS
The power over Scottish elections and the Scottish parliament’s electoral rules. This will allow MSPs to lower the voting age in Holyrood contests to 16, as it was in September’s independence referendum, and extend (or cut) the four-year parliamentary term.
FURTHER SNP DEMANDS
Employment policy, the minimum wage, all welfare, business taxes, national insurance and equality policy – and full fiscal autonomy, where Scotland seizes control of all taxes
Ms Sturgeon has said the Prime Minister must take note and build on his devolution offer, which she called a 'starting point'. But he indicated any further powers would be some way off, especially as powers recommended by the previous Calman Commission were not yet in place.
'What we agreed was first of all let's implement Smith, make sure it really is Smith. We're looking at welfare and making sure the clauses reflect what that agreement was,' Mr Cameron said.
'But I think there's a problem, we haven't yet implemented Calman, let alone implement Smith. We haven't got the tax powers coming in April 2016, so let's implement that so people can see the massive power over tax and spending that the Scottish Parliament will have.'
However, he added: 'The First Minister wants to send some proposals for me to look at, I'm quite happy to look at proposals. I don't rule out making other changes if sensible suggestions are made.'
Ms Sturgeon has said that if the UK votes to leave the EU in a referendum, and a majority of Scots back staying in, that could trigger a second referendum.
She has called for a veto for Scotland – as well as England, Wales and Northern Ireland – so the UK could not leave the EU without the agreement of all four.
But Mr Cameron dismissed this as hypocritical. 'We put forward in our manifesto the clearest possible pledge of an in-out referendum by the end of 2017. That has now been backed in a UK General Election and I believe I have a mandate for that,' he said.
'Rather in the same way the SNP felt they had a mandate for their referendum, they didn't give Orkney, Shetland and the Borders an opt-out.'
Miss Sturgeon described the meeting as 'constructive and business-like'.
'Two things of significance were agreed at the meeting,' she said.
'Firstly, there was a commitment from the Prime Minister that the legislation that they will shortly introduce to the Westminster parliament to implement the proposals of the Smith Commission will implement those proposals in full.
'We had a report of a Scottish Parliament committee yesterday which said that where they have got to thus far doesn't fully implement the Smith Commission proposals.
'So, there is a commitment to do that, and we will make sure that happens.
'Secondly, I have said we will put forward proposals for devolution further than the Smith Commission proposals.
'The Prime Minister has said they would consider those proposals.
'I am not going to put words in his mouth and say he has agreed any specific proposals, but there is an agreement to look at that and there will be a meeting with Deputy First Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland to take that discussion forward.'
She added: 'I want Scotland to have full fiscal autonomy, David Cameron doesn't, but what we said in our manifesto was that there were priority powers over and above the Smith Commission that we wanted to see devolved.
'So, what we are talking about are business taxes and employment legislation, the minimum wage and more powers over welfare.'
Today's historic meeting comes after Ms Sturgeon was forced to slap down a 'senior SNP source' who claimed a second independence referendum could be called without UK-wide agreement.
The Prime Minister held talks with the Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson (left), a leading figure in the NO campaign during the independence referendum, after his meeting with Nicola Sturgeon
In his meeting with the SNP, Mr Cameron said he was open to the possibility of granting further powers to Holyrood
The senior party source in Westminster said Scots, who rejected independence last September, would choose to leave the UK if a vote was held tomorrow, adding: 'You only have to win once.'
If Westminster refused to allow another referendum, Holyrood could simply hold one unilaterally and declare secession if it returns a 'yes' vote, the source suggested.
But a spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said the bombshell claim was 'totally wrong' and reiterated that there were 'no plans' for a second poll, despite last week's landslide general election victory for the SNP in Scotland.
David Cameron can only save the Union by hugging Nicola Sturgeon close
The SNP joining the British establishment may be the Union's best hope
Cameron meets up with Sturgeon Photo: Getty Images
By Allan Massie
15 May 2015
The Telegraph
The question of a second Independence referendum hung unnecessarily over the meeting between David Cameron and Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh. It needn’t have done so, but it was provoked by Cameron’s assertion that the matter was settled and that he would not consent to a second round. Technically of course he is right. The Scotland Act which set up the Scottish Parliament reserved constitutional matters to Westminster.
Since, however, there is no immediate prospect of another referendum, and Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly made it clear that the General Election wasn’t about independence and the word “referendum” was missing from the SNP’s manifesto, the Prime Minister might more wisely have accepted that it was a sleeping dog, and said nothing to disturb it.
Ms Sturgeon is instead pressing for more powers to be devolved to Scotland, and some of her demands such as more control over welfare and the level of the minimum wage may be acceptable to Cameron. Welfare, after all, is a matter on which Labour and the SNP tend to do better than the Conservatives - so why not hand control to Edinburgh and see what the SNP makes of it? The temptation is obvious.
On the other hand none of this is urgent. It would indeed be sensible to see how the recommendations of the Smith Commission work out once they are put in practice. The Prime Minister is unlikely to make further Scottish reform a priority. The imminent EU negotiations and the consequent referendum on our continued membership are going to occupy him more over the coming months. It might incidentally be sensible to invite the SNP to nominate a member for his negotiating team, or at least grant the party observer status.
After all it’s widely assumed that Cameron will campaign for staying in the EU, and the SNP will be on the same side in that referendum. Nicola Sturgeon might be shy of standing on the same platform as Cameron, but, over the EU, they are likely to be singing the same tune.
The SNP is now by some way the third biggest party in the House of Commons, having won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats. Even more than the Conservatives in England it benefited from the first-past-the-post electoral system. Those Scottish Unionists who point out, correctly, that this triumph was achieved on only a couple of decimal points more than 50 per cent of the vote should recognize that this represents a much higher share of the popular vote than the Conservatives got in the UK. So the SNP’s legitimacy can’t be questioned.
Their strength in the Commons gives them the opportunity to be noisy, difficult and obstructive. But that’s all. They are in Opposition, not , as they hoped, propping up a minority Labour Government and holding it to ransom. So they are less influential than they thought they might be. There’s no prospect of Alex Salmond writing Labour’s Budget; the next budget will be George Osborne’s , and there’s nothing the SNP can do about that.
On the other hand, if David Cameron is sincere in his expressed determination to preserve the Union, then the result of the election in Scotland must be respected, and the SNP’s legitimate role in the Commons recognized. It should be given a good representation on Commons committees - perhaps a couple of chairmanships, and a fair crack at Prime Minister’s Questions.
It may sound strange, but the best way to treat the SNP at Westminster is with sympathy and generosity, rather than regarding it as a rogue element there. If its sizeable presence in the Commons is seen to benefit Scotland, then the attraction of Separatism is likely at least to be diluted. The more the SNP is eased into UK politics, the better.
Actually the SNP has made a gesture in this direction, one which suggests that it is more likely to see its role as constructive than destructive. Its Westminster leader is the eminently sensible Angus Robertson, not the more wayward Alex Salmond, who has been shunted aside and given a Foreign Affairs brief. Apart from the fact that Robertson is now an old Commons hand, his appointment makes it clear that the SNP has only one leader; Nicola Sturgeon. Salmond isn’t going to be a back-seat driver. Ms Sturgeon is in charge, even though she is not an MP, and the Party’s discipline is severe. Going off-message won’t be tolerated.
As to the prospect - or danger - of a second Independence referendum, it is quite likely that the SNP manifesto for next year’s Scottish Election will make a provision for one. But it will be heavily qualified by some such phrase as “in certain circumstances” or “if thought appropriate”. Nicola Sturgeon is unlikely to go for one unless she is sure of winning. In the past she has spoken of the test being opinion polls consistently showing 60 per cent in favour of independence. This isn’t likely - as things stand. It might happen, however, if there was a UK majority in favour of leaving the EU while Scotland voted to stay.
It’s more probable that Sturgeon and the SNP will prefer to advance towards their ultimate goal, salami-style, by accruing ever greater powers at Holyrood. At some point the SNP might even see the merit of a Constitutional Convention which opened the door to a reconstruction of the UK on a federal, or quasi-federal, basis.
For the time being however independence is on the back-burner. If Cameron plays his cards cleverly and treats Scotland with sympathy and understanding, it may remain there for a very long time, if not for ever. The SNP’s election triumph offers the prospect, paradoxical as it may seem, of bringing the SNP into the body of the kirk, accommodating it within the British political system. This, for the moment at least, is the best hope for the Union.
David Cameron can only save the Union by hugging Nicola Sturgeon close - Telegraph
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