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    Clegg taunts 'cowardly' SNP over independence referendum

    Politics.co.uk – Wed, Feb 1, 2012

    By Alex Stevenson

    Scottish nationalists should have the "courage of their convictions" and accept an independence referendum sooner rather than later, Nick Clegg has said.

    The deputy prime minister hit out at the Scottish National party (SNP) for "falsely characterising" the nature of the independence debate as the standoff between Holyrood and Westminster over the terms of the coming vote continues.

    "The Scottish administration should have the courage of its convictions," Mr Clegg told the Lords' constitution committee in an evidence session this morning.

    "For the life of me I can't understand why not they're approaching the great moment when they can put it to the Scottish people they want to obfuscate and confuse -  suggesting they're not quite as confident in their own case that I'd have thought they might be."

    Alex Salmond's party wants the vote to take place in autumn 2014 and is keen on the idea of a third 'devo-max' option on the ballot paper.

    London wants the referendum to take place next year and believes voters should only be offered a 'yes-no' option.

    Mr Clegg said the Liberal Democrats preferred a version of "home rule", currently being investigated by former leader Sir Menzies Campbell, but that the coalition's priority was a referendum which is clear, fair, decisive and legal.

    "Where the debate has become falsely polarised at the moment - I think some people have an interest in falsely characterising the two options - is by saying the only choice is between complete independence and the status quo," he added.

    "That is not actually what is at stake. What is at stake is either this great step into the unknown, of Scotland wrenching itself apart from the UK, and a further process which is a dynamic, ongoing process of greater powers to Scotland.

    "Devolution is not a tablet of stone, it is a process."

    Mr Clegg resumed his offensive against the SNP when he questioned the limited nature of its detailed proposals on the implications of independence would mean for the UK and Scotland.

    Raising issues including currency, defence bases and taxation, he said: "I'd have thought, call me naive, if you're a party with the sole purpose of independence of Scotland you'd have done a bit of homework about what independence actually means."

    The deputy prime minister was forced to share a platform with SNP leader Alex Salmond last month, after Mr Salmond had hit out at "bullying and hectoring" from London.

    Then Mr Clegg had told the Scottish first minister: "Don't be so jumpy."

     

    49 comments

    • john v
      john v  •  Fareham, England  •  3 months ago
      fair enough cleggy boy, if you say the snp should have the courage of their convictions to hold a referendum, why don't you and your coalition partner hold a referendum on the UK's continued membership of the EU,
    • Jakobson
      Jakobson  •  3 months ago
      so when is the cCoalition giving us our EU REFERENDUM or are ttey so scared .no good taunting the SNP .they will deliver a referendum.i laugh ....the voting sytem referendum wa fixed and a big joke .we couldnt even vote for PR ..SO WHERES THE COALITIONS CREDIBILITY.
      • David
        David 3 months ago
        coalition? credibility? get a grip lol
      • Neil
        Neil 3 months ago
        David lol ...spot on
    • David
      David  •  Elgin, Scotland  •  3 months ago
      Are we supposed to take anything that comes out of the mouth of the biggest political prostitute in history. Its got fuq all to do with clegg (scots for a biting bloodsucking horsefly) It is for the Scottish Govt to decide when and where. I wonder if cameron had his hand up gleggs erse working him
      • G
        G 3 months ago
        Well said David It has nothing to do with clegg and Cameron for that matter . WE WILL VOTE FOR THE REFERENDUM IN THE AUTUMN2014,not before when they bampots think they can dictate. The scots are not nhe cowards it is the london governemnt that are cowards because they know they will be bankrupt when we vote for our independence.
      • A Yahoo! User 3 months ago
        scots have a regional assembly; not a goverment; if it was a government there would be no need for a referendum as you would be self governing already. He says the leaders of the SNP are cowards not the scots people. even an #$%$ like clegg couldn`t be so crasse.-------marcus
      • David
        David 3 months ago
        look above the door of Hollyrood the sign says "THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT" quite clearly in big letters
    • Neil
      Neil  •  3 months ago
      Makes sense Mr Clegg When are you going to Practice what you Preach at least Mr Salmond respects his people enough to ask them what they want. You change your mind and turn so often you spin like a top
      • A Yahoo! User 3 months ago
        Salmond respects his people--rubbish--he`s using you for his own ends;
        he who puts his faith in polititions is doomed to disappointment--wait & see
        by the way 2014 is the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1 when many scots
        & others fought for freedom of the UK------angus
      • David
        David 3 months ago
        sounds like sour grapes from .
      • A Yahoo! User 3 months ago
        didn`t think you could afford grapes up there --sweet or sour--though you do have bitterness in your heart & soul -------angus
    • THOMAS
      THOMAS  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
      Courage and Convictios are not words that can be used in connection with the Traitor Clegg, who is now nothing but a Tory Bum kisser and camerons #$%$
    • john sloop b
      john sloop b  •  3 months ago
      hoho, Cleg , another Mp who is in a rush to make Mr Salmond have the referendum, we all know why that is , they dont want a factual debate on the subject, they dont want the Scots to know all the facts about where all these untold Billion have disappeared from all of Scotlands resources. The Tories and even Labour dont want any discussion about all the Revenues that go to the uk parliament , and where and how its gets used. why would Labour want the Scots to find out how under orders from London , Scottish labour moved Scottish sea borders further north for England to claim 6000sq miles of Scottish waters, this is the kind of thing the Labour party did in Scotland when they were in charge. The Tories and Labour are never to be trusted again, thats why the SNP had a landslide vote . WE will decide when, We will decide how..WE will decide our future.
      • Jim G
        Jim G 3 months ago
        John, when YOU have decided and put a cross on the YES box remember that night because it will haunt you for the damage it will do to THE UNITED KINGDOM. History is the past, its dead and buried it is the future that is important. Where those who are in charge, and those who said YES will have put them there, will have to go out with a very large begging bowl to who??? Europe, if so that means Scotland will need to have another referendum before any money £'s or Euro's?? and what happens if YOU want to come south of the border to spend your Euro's and get less because it will be more expensive.... Have a look at Ireland. Just say NO.
      • G
        G 3 months ago
        Aye right Jim G what about all the damage that has already been done to Scotland with the london interference over the years. Aye Scotland can go it alone and if that means we damage london control then TOUGH LUCK.
      • john sloop b
        john sloop b 3 months ago
        Jim G. forget talking Scotland down,we are not that stupid to believe all that total nonsense. many countries have been through the independence route, its a lot of paper work, and hard work, but at the end of the day it will benifit Scotland and its people . We will decide if we join the EU or the Euro. thats what countries do when they are independent. Norway with the same population and resources manage to get on just fine. We are not talking about history, we are talking about taking control of our own affairs. We are an outpost to be bled dry by Westminster, they will never protect Scotland at any EU meeting. WE must be in control.
    • Shaky
      Shaky  •  3 months ago
      Oh dear, Salmond will be running scared now. Personally I don't think I would survive such a barrage from as powerful and respected a man as Nick Clegg.
      • David
        David 3 months ago
        were all shaking up here lol
      • Diane Y
        Diane Y 3 months ago
        well i trust salmon and the English so called government never listen. were shaking up here lol
    • BigAl
      BigAl  •  3 months ago
      Nobody should listen to the bull he spouts, total nonentity, trying to justify his and his parties' existence.
    • robert
      robert  •  Rochdale, England  •  3 months ago
      With all the time he has to twiddle his thumbs you would have thought he would come up with something better than this.
    • Wills
      Wills  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
      Absolutely par for the course for the increasingly cretinous statements from Clegg. He really has little relevance to anyone or anything, and to talk about referendum in this Government is another huge political mistake. It immediately draws comparison to the fact that they have reneged on an absolute pledge to hold one on our relationship with The EU if radical changes are made.
      Patently all sorts of major changes have taken place, even to the extent of Cameron rolling over yet again when fiscal changes enforceable through EU courts against his stated objectives, and yet Cameron et al continue to deny it. The evidence is now so clear that any statement Cameron, Clegg and their cronies make is rightly derided in the EU whilst the electorate is still denied it's promised referendum. Clegg will undoubtedly get his ear smacked later, if not for the statement, but at least for his continued stupidity.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  3 months ago
      Who cares what Clegg says? No-one is interested in you Clegg you are a liar and a coward that will do and say anything to keep yourself in power. Your party in Scotland are the same as your Tory bedfellows, Fringe.
    • Just.Jayne
      Just.Jayne  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
      How dare Clegg even use the words "courage of their convictions" having betrayed the majority of those who voted for his party.
    • My
      My  •  3 months ago
      No one cares what Clegg says, and what's he doing of Cameron's lap anyway
    • David
      David  •  Elgin, Scotland  •  3 months ago
      well done agent clegg, pop into Hollyrood for mor instructions and collect your brown envelope nod nod wink wink
    • Jamie
      Jamie  •  3 months ago
      Clegg hasn't got it yet, Salmond & Co. are sticking precisely to their election pledges on the timing and details of the referendum. Sounds like "courage of their convictions" to me.
    • Geordie
      Geordie  •  Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea  •  3 months ago
      So the Scots can have a referendum next year but the rest of the UK cannot have one on EU membership? A bit of double standards? Maybe Mr. Salmond will go the way of Dr. David Kelly?
    • David
      David  •  Barnsley, England  •  3 months ago
      I dont like Clegg, I think the man is breathtakingly arrogant, how he can bang on about the Scots needing "The courage of their convictions" and the need for them to hold an early referendum, while he actively works at denying the UK a referendum on the EU, is typical of the Lib Dem toad.
    • David
      David  •  Elgin, Scotland  •  3 months ago
      Clegg, Scottish for bloodsucking horsefly
    • Harry
      Harry  •  Brighton, England  •  3 months ago
      Clegg wants to shut his lying mouth, typical shirt liffting marble mouth #$%$
    • MARGARET
      MARGARET  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
      Alex has already told you Mr Clegg, when the Scottish people will decide. Please note the Liberals will never hold a seat again in Scotland - What did you think was going to happen in Scotland when you decided to cosy up with the Cons? Are you going to stand as a Conservative in next UK election? I think you just might.
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