United Kingdom (Separation)

– in the Scottish Parliament at on 22 March 2012.

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Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

6. To ask the First Minister whether he considers that separation from the rest of the United Kingdom could be negotiated within a year of an independence referendum. (S4F-00558)

Photo of Alex Salmond Alex Salmond First Minister of Scotland, Leader, Scottish National Party

If John Lamont was so confident about his position, he would not feel the need to describe the process of independence, self-determination and self-respect in such pejorative terms. I refer him to paragraphs 4.1 to 4.5 of the “Your Scotland—Your Referendum” consultation paper, which I note has now received 7,000 responses. If I remember correctly, that is a somewhat greater number than the membership of the Scottish Conservative party recently. Mr Lamont will find in that part of the document a timetable for what would happen after a vote for independence in the autumn of 2014. I am sure that in his heart he genuinely agrees that the proposed timetable is proper. Following a yes vote in the referendum, the first election of an independent Scotland will take place in May 2016.

Photo of John Lamont John Lamont Conservative

Another non-answer from the First Minister this afternoon.

Given what he has said about a possible timetable, will the First Minister enlighten us as to the discussions that he has had with each of Her Majesty’s Government’s reserved departments on the implications of separation for Scotland?

Photo of Alex Salmond Alex Salmond First Minister of Scotland, Leader, Scottish National Party

I note that the member continues to use that pejorative term. What is it about independence that so frightens the Conservative Party that it dare not speak its name? Is it because the number of independent countries in the world and in the United Nations has increased from 50 to almost 200? How many of the independent countries in the UN describe themselves as separated or as having engaged in a process of separation? I look forward to the United States of America celebrating separation day on 4 July. The greatest ally of the Conservative Party—[Interruption.]

The Presiding Officer:

Mr Johnstone—enough!

Photo of Alex Salmond Alex Salmond First Minister of Scotland, Leader, Scottish National Party

Many countries have become independent on a very timeous timescale. For example, the Czech Republic and Slovakia declared independence on 17 July 1992 and became formally independent on 1 January 1993. Every UK Prime Minister since Harold Wilson has accepted the right of the people of Scotland to declare their independence and I am sure that that means that, after a yes vote, the Westminster Government will seek to conclude independence negotiations in a prompt and efficient manner.

Finally, I congratulate John Lamont on falling only 22 per cent in Tory Hoose’s popularity poll of its members. In contrast, Ruth Davidson managed to fall by 77 per cent. All the votes went to someone we can only call the lost leader—Murdo Fraser, who increased his popularity by 37 per cent. Mind you, with his opposition to minimum pricing, maybe we should call him the loss leader, not the lost leader.

The Presiding Officer:

That ends First Minister’s question time. We resume at 2 pm.

12:32 Meeting suspended.

14:00 On resuming—