ONE of the leading architects of devolution has strongly backed Alex Salmond in his fight with Westminster over his plans for a second question in the independence referendum.
Veteran home rule activist Canon Kenyon Wright says attempts by Prime Minister David Cameron and others to block the "devo max" option, which would extend the powers of Holyrood, on the ballot paper are "unacceptable" and insists: "Whatever our views, we must not allow London to pre-empt that debate in Scotland."
His intervention in the ongoing dispute between the Coalition and Scottish Government over the poll came as George Osborne refused to rule out Scotland being barred from retaining the pound if it split from the rest of the UK after the autumn 2014 referendum.
The Chancellor told ITV News that Scotland would also have to take on its share, estimated at £100 billion, of the national debt and questioned its ability to pay towards the UK's £187bn current exposure to the bailed-out Royal Bank of Scotland after its near-collapse in 2008. The First Minister had earlier said that he would not be prepared to share the UK's exposure to its toxic assets.
Mr Wright was convener of the Scottish Constitutional Convention, the cross-party grouping that fought for constitutional change in the 1990s and drafted plans for the Scottish Parliament on the basis of its Claim of Right.
In a letter in today's Herald, he writes: "Westminster must not be allowed to dictate the terms of the referendum or the options to be offered. That is a matter for the Scottish Government and Parliament, but even more for the people of Scotland.
"My own view is that a straight choice between independence and the status quo effectively disenfranchises a large number of Scots who want neither. Since this is a crucial decision for Scotland's future governance, that is unacceptable."
Mr Wright, president of the Constitutional Commission, a Scottish-based body promoting democratic citizenship and constitutional education, last night added he was angry at the prospect of Scots going to the polls in 2014 and being denied the choice that all the evidence suggests a clear majority of them want.
He said: "Imagine going into the polling booth in such circumstances and being forced to choose between two options, the status quo or outright independence, and not the option of more powers for the Scottish Parliament. Quite simply, that is disenfranchising people.
"What gives Westminster politicians the right to interfere in this? The consultation is about to be launched and the debate that follows should include the issue of whether or not there should be a second question."
The Scottish Constitutional Convention was formed in 1989 and involved Labour, the LibDems, trade unions, churches and other civic bodies. The SNP was initially involved but withdrew when its scope for constitutional change was limited to devolution, ruling out independence.
For that reason leading SNP figures did not sign the Claim of Right, although Mr Salmond now plans to offer all MSPs the chance later this month to reaffirm their support for its sentiments about the sovereignty of the Scottish people.
Mr Wright said he recently urged the First Minister to ensure there was a second question about stronger powers for Holyrood. However, he detests the phrase "devo max" used by Mr Salmond and even the word devolution, preferring what he calls "secure autonomy" to describe enhanced powers.
Meanwhile, Mr Osborne made clear the UK Government was now "taking the fight to the separatists" on independence. He said: "I think profoundly it would not be good for Scotland or for the UK and it wouldn't be good for the people of Scotland in terms of the health of the Scottish economy.
"If you look at the scale of the national debt, for example, that Scotland would have to take if it became independent. If you look at the fact it has an important banking industry as we know and you ask yourself – would Scotland alone have been able to bail out the Royal Bank of Scotland or Halifax Bank of Scotland?"
He added: "Alex Salmond has said Scotland should join the euro, that means giving up the
pound -The euro, that is not the currency I'd be wanting to join at a time like this."
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "The currency position is crystal clear – an independent Scotland will retain sterling, and there is absolutely no provision requiring Scotland to join the euro."
The latest row came as RBS announced 4450 jobs will be lost at its global banking and markets arm and Ulster Bank.
At Holyrood, the SNP voted down Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont's motion on referendum plans in favour of the First Minister's proposals for the autumn 2014 poll, including votes for 16-year-olds and a new oversight body answerable to Holyrood.
Ms Lamont called for immediate cross-party talks, backed by the Tories and LibDems. Mr Salmond warned Labour the Tories would "suck you in and they'll spit you out."
Elsewhere, UK Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman dismissed concerns Mr Cameron was a liability to the anti-independence campaign.
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