Salmond says Cameron's enthusiasm for Euro referendum is 'hypocrisy'

Salmond: Cameron 'will stand accused of double dealing and doublethink'.© STV

The First Minister has accused David Cameron of contradicting himself in his calls for a referendum on Europe.

Alex Salmond said it was "extraordinary" that the Prime Minister should suggest holding an unspecified referendum on the UK's European future while "threatening to obstruct" the independence referendum.

In an article for The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Cameron acknowledged the need to ensure the UK's position within an evolving EU has "the full-hearted support of the British people".

He stressed there would be further opportunities in the coming months and years to win back powers from Brussels and that he wanted to be able to offer voters a "real choice" in any potential referendum.

"As I have said, for me the two words 'Europe' and 'referendum' can go together, particularly if we really are proposing a change in how our country is governed, but let us get the people a real choice first".

He is expected to set out more detail about the possibility of a referendum in the autumn.

Mr Salmond said: "The position is very clear. If Mr Cameron thinks it is the Westminster Parliament's right to determine the parameters of an EU poll then equally clearly it is the Scottish Parliament's to determine the parameters of a Scottish vote.

"The position must be that the Scottish Government proposes, the Electoral Commission advises and the Scottish Parliament determines the nature of the vote — which is exactly in line with UK Government and parliament procedure on referendums. All that is required is that the Prime Minister indicates that he is cutting the strings from the Section 30 order and leaving it to Scotland to determine.

"The Prime Minister should realise that in Scotland his new-found enthusiasm for a poll on the EU will be regarded as hypocrisy given his attitudes to the Scottish referendum. He will stand accused of double dealing and doublethink."

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said Mr Salmond was trying to "divert attention away from his attempts to get a second question on the ballot paper".

She said: "It is high time he stopped his carping from the sidelines and accepted the offer from myself and the other opposition leaders to get back round the negotiating table.

"This is the biggest decision Scotland has faced in 300 years and the electorate should be offered a single question that is fair, legal and decisive.

"The quicker we can get this issue sorted, the quicker we can have a substantial debate about Scotland's future.

"For someone who has campaigned all his political life for separation, it is puzzling as to why he has suddenly become coy about putting the question to the Scottish people."

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