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Salmond in denial – Alexander

Salmond in denial  –  Alexander

Scotland’s first minister is in denial about the prospect of a vote against independence, according to the shadow foreign secretary.

Douglas Alexander, Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, criticised Alex Salmond after the SNP leader revealed his plan for a cross-party team to negotiate the terms of independence.

Mr Alexander is calling for the SNP and other independence campaigners to work with Labour after a No vote to “make devolution work”.

He did not say whether he would accept the first minister’s offer.

“I regard myself as part of a Scottish team at the moment with Alistair Darling, with Gordon Brown, with Margaret Curran, with Johann Lamont, the millions of us who want to stay with our friends, families and neighbours across the UK,” he said.

“My leader, Johann Lamont, has made clear that Scottish Labour is here to stay. If the Yes side was to win the referendum on September 18 we would continue to seek to serve the people in the communities of Scotland.

“Look at the most recent opinion poll. There was a 20-point gap between what the first minister is claiming and what the facts suggest, so my focus is going to be on delivering those poll results into votes in the ballot box on September 18.”

The Progressive Scottish Opinion poll, published at the weekend, suggested 54% support a No vote compared with 34% for Yes, with the remainder yet to make up their minds.

A different poll taken last month suggested the Yes campaign was just three points behind.

The competing invitations to work together were made by the two political opponents as they marked 15 years since the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament.

Mr Salmond said: “The independence team will secure expertise from across the political spectrum and beyond, and from Scotland and beyond, to begin talks with Westminster before the end of this September – marking the point at which the real negotiations will begin. I understand that people on the other side of the political debate cannot accept that at the moment, but hope and expect that they will be fully part of the Team Scotland approach once the votes have been cast.

“It is also the case that a number of people outside party politics – but with key expertise – have already been approached and the response has been universally positive.”

Mr Alexander expanded on his own plan during a Better Together event in Edinburgh yesterday.

“Alex Salmond’s question reflects his denial of where we stand, which is that consistently the polls have indicated that while he secured a handsome victory in 2011, on this issue he doesn’t speak for Scotland,” he said.

“If we see a Yes vote, contrary to all the opinion poll evidence, then there would be judgments that need to made by Johann Lamont as Scottish Labour’s leader as to how our party would respond to that judgment by the Scottish people.

“But there’s no indication at this stage that it’s the likely outcome.”

He also remains optimistic about Labour’s chances of victory at the next Westminster election.

Polls have suggested the Yes vote could inc- rease if a Tory win looks likely.