Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott has shrugged off calls to back the Scottish Government's planned referendum on independence.
Mr Scott said the party policy is to vote against the SNP's proposed legislation. The idea was raised by activists at the party's annual conference in Bournemouth, although it has not been debated openly.
Speaking to STV News, Mr Scott said: "Well the conference is a time where politicians and activists come together. Some possibly take a little too much sea air and get a little excited but what I think is important is that we agree on absolutely opposing independence.
"We do not support the SNP’s policy of splitting up the United Kingdom. What we also want to is make sure that we provide a fairer deal for British taxpayers."
The Nationalist Government plans to publish a Bill on an independence referendum on St Andrew’s Day and wants to hold a vote next year.
The plans lack parliamentary support at the moment with the main opposition parties - Labour, Tory and Lib Dems - opposed.
But a switch in the Lib Dems position would leave the Nationalists just two votes short of the 65 they need at Holyrood to push through the plans.
The Lib Dem conference heard calls on Sunday for the party to allow a referendum to take place on Scottish independence in order to argue the case for the Union.
Kevin Lang, prospective parliamentary candidate in Edinburgh North and Leith, said it could "settle an issue which I fear is haunting Scottish politics".
Last updated: 22 September 2009, 19:36
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