SNP 'may have to accept devolution'

Mar 3 2013

The SNP should embrace devolution if Scotland votes No to independence after years of acting like "reluctant bystanders", according to the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Willie Rennie has urged Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to ditch the "surly" approach that saw the SNP walk out of the Scottish Constitutional Convention in the 1990s.

The alliance of politicians and civic groups paved the way for devolution but the SNP walked away because it would not consider independence.

The SNP also initially refused to engage with the Calman Commission which led to further devolution in the Scotland Act 2012.

Last week Labour shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander called for a national convention to discuss "the appropriate balance of powers and responsibilities" if people in Scotland vote against independence.

It follows the Lib Dem's Home Rule Commission, which calls for a federal UK, and Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge to consider more powers for Scotland in the event of a No vote.

Last year the SNP resurrected "The Claim of Right for Scotland", a core element of the Constitutional Convention which asserted Scotland's right to self-determination, despite refusing to sign it first time round.

Ms Sturgeon has said repeatedly that the SNP will not stop supporting independence, even if Scotland votes No.

SNP MSP Bruce Crawford insisted that Scotland's home rule journey "has always run on SNP petrol" and that the only way to guarantee more powers is to vote Yes to independence.

Mr Rennie said: "In the event of a No vote in 2014, it will be in every party's gift to set out what happens next. I hope that Nicola Sturgeon will put to bed the surly approach which saw her party walk out of the Constitutional Convention and attempt to undermine the significant Scotland Act."