BUSINESS WANTS POLL ON UNION SAYS TOP TORY

DEMANDS for a referendum on Scottish independence have received support from the country's business community, according to another Conservative figure who is backing the radical plan. John McGlynn, founder and chairman of Airlink group, and a leading Tory fundraiser, said he too supported the idea of a referendum in order to clear the air over Scotland's constitutional future.

His comments come a week after the vice-chairman of the Scots Tories, Richard Cook, first backed the plan, insisting that Unionists should take the fight to the SNP over the matter. Business figures are understood to have held meetings to discuss the referendum question in the last week, following Cook's announcement.

Cook claimed that investment decisions in Scotland were being jeopardised because of the uncertainty surrounding the issue. McGlynn said he had no evidence that doubts over Scotland's future were turning businesses off, but said that there was growing backing for a referendum. "There are business people who are totally against independence and there are those who are totally in favour of it, but the common theme that I come across is that they believe the people of Scotland should have a say in their destiny," he said.

He went on: "Whether or not you agree with independence, the bottom line is that the people of Scotland should have their say. My hope is that this becomes Conservative Party policy."

"The Tories could say: 'We believe in the Union and what we also believe in is the right of people in Scotland to have their say.'

"That would be a clear message that we trust the people of Scotland." McGlynn is a well-known figure in Scots Tory circles, helping to arrange annual fundraising events. However, Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie has said she is opposed to any referendum.

Yesterday, the SNP backed a plan to find 100,000 signatures for a public petition on a referendum.

SNP TO SEEK PUBLIC BACKING FOR REFERENDUM PLAN

SNP activists want to by-pass parliament on the issue of independence by starting a massive petition to force MSPs to agree to a referendum, it emerged last night. The SNP National Council is expected to approve a plan today which would give the go-ahead for a nationwide campaign.

Activists believe the parliament would be left with no choice but to accept the referendum plan if the petition was signed by 100,000 people or more. The SNP government is committed to introducing a bill paving the way for a referendum but it does not have the support of enough MSPs from other parties to secure its passage through parliament.

Alex Salmond made it clear from his first speech to parliament as First Minister that he intended to involve the public outside Holyrood in this debate and the petition plan would appear to be an ideal way of doing that. The resolution for the National Council has been tabled by the party's Merchiston and Morningside branch in Edinburgh. It calls on the SNP's National Executive Committee to "explore ways of engaging with the public", including a "citizens' initiative".

A senior SNP source said the resolution was almost certain to be passed because he could not believe anybody in the party would speak against such a pro-independence plan. If it is passed, it would commit the SNP leadership to finding ways of driving forward the party's referendum plans outside the parliament. Alex Orr, an SNP activist, said the idea would be to secure the support of as many members of the public as possible, in a petition which would be impossible for the parliament to ignore.

Blaming the Liberal Democrats for refusing to do a deal with the SNP because of its commitment to an independence referendum, Mr Orr said: "The time has come to take this issue out of the hands of the politicians, who have failed to get their act together, and pass it to the people."  

The "citizens' initiative" idea comes from Switzerland where the system of campaigners changing the law from the ground has been entrenched for some time. Mr Orr said a citizens' initiative could work in Scotland.

"If a sufficient number of Scottish citizens petitioned for a multi-option referendum on Scotland's constitutional future then in the name of citizen's empowerment and faced with an already largely politically apathetic and disillusioned electorate, it is difficult to see the parliament defying the will of the people and the principles on which it was itself established," he said.

He added: "This would not only serve to tackle voter apathy and cynicism towards the political system, but has the potential to revitalise democracy, re- engage people in the political process and make politics work for people, a valuable prize."

The highlight of the National Council - which meets at least twice a year and is the SNP's main policy-making forum between annual conferences - will be Mr Salmond's first speech to a party audience since he became First Minister.

He is expected to tell the gathering of activists, councillors, MSPs and MPs that the party has already taken significant steps to meet its manifesto commitments since taking power after the Holyrood elections in May.

Mr Salmond is likely to stress that the SNP will have to remain united if it is to meet the challenges posed by being in devolved government.

ANNIE LENNOX BACKS INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM

Former Eurythmics lead singer Annie Lennox has backed a referendum on Scottish independence. She said "I don't know if Scotland would be better off as an independent country. It's down to the Scots to decide".

ALEX SALMOND WILL BOOST SCOTLAND'S PROFILE IN EUROPE WITH HIGH PROFILE TOUR

First Minister Alex Salmond is planning an unprecedented summer tour of northern Europe aimed at developing alliances among the Celtic nations and raising Scotland's profile abroad, it emerged last night. Mr Salmond flies to Northern Ireland today on his first official visit as First Minister. He will meet the Rev Ian Paisley, the First Minister, and Martin McGuinness, the Deputy First Minister, in the first stage of a process which Mr Salmond hopes will see the re-establishment of a formal "Council of the Nations" in the UK.

He then aims to go to Cardiff, to hold talks with Rhodri Morgan, the Welsh First Minister, once the exact make-up of the Welsh Executive becomes clear. After that, Mr Salmond will then fly to Dublin - probably early next month - in what will be his first foreign visit as First Minister. Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach, invited Mr Salmond to Dublin within days of his election.

Mr Salmond's aides have also pencilled in a visit to Norway in July to discuss energy, and a trip to Brussels following the Passchendaele commemorations on 12 July. The aim of the visits to Northern Ireland and Wales is to get all three devolved parts of the United Kingdom demanding the re-establishment of the joint ministerial committees.

These were created to act as a link between the devolved governments and Westminster, but have largely fallen into abeyance. Mr Salmond has agreed to discuss the issue with Gordon Brown when he officially takes over as Prime Minister. However, Mr Salmond's visits to Ireland and Norway will have a more nationalist edge as the SNP has long used the two countries as examples of what an independent Scotland could become.

The First Minister will fly from Dundee to Belfast this morning and will address members of the Northern Irish Assembly in Stormont this afternoon. He will suggest to Northern Irish leaders that relations between the devolved governments and with London could be put on a "proper, business-like basis" by resurrecting the joint ministerial committees.

He hopes a united front could help put pressure on the UK government to meet shared demands, such as lowering corporation tax. "It is not a question of ganging up, it is a question of formulating ideas in a constructive way," Mr Salmond said. "And on many of these issues it will also be, in my opinion, in the interests of the Westminster government.

"But even if there are areas of disagreement, it is far better to have a vehicle through joint ministerial meetings, or other vehicles which might be arrived at, where they can be discussed properly."

Richard Cook - Scottish Tories Vice-Chairman

LEADING SCOTTISH TORIES BACK VOTE ON INDEPENDENCE

A referendum on Scottish independence could be held as early as next year after a dramatic move by Conservative leaders to support the historic poll. The party's vice-chairman has publicly backed a referendum as soon as possible to "clear the air" over Scotland's constitutional future.

Several Tory MSPs are backing the move, claiming the poll - which is likely to reject independence three to one - would "shoot the Nationalists' fox". Conservative supporters of the plan believe it is essential to kill off the independence issue to reassure businesses and potential investors that Scotland has a stable future, while also giving them a chance to set the "positive case" for the Union.

The move, which has caused widespread astonishment at Holyrood, was last night welcomed by First Minister Alex Salmond. The Nationalists have promised a referendum on independence within the term of the Parliament but the mathematics of Holyrood make it impossible for them to push through the necessary law on their own.

The backing of the entire Tory group, Greens and the one independent MSP would give them a majority. Conservative supporters of the plan insist that a vote on independence is necessary to provide stability for the country. It comes amid claims that investors are already being turned off Scotland because of uncertainty about its future. The Tory calls for a referendum were led by the party's vice-chairman, Richard Cook. He told Scotland on Sunday: "I'm personally in support of a referendum bill at the earliest possible opportunity, to remove the uncertainty already being created to business. There are plenty of business people who are delaying taking business decisions at the moment, and that is jeopardising Scottish jobs and wealth creation in Scotland."

He added: "My position is that we should be making the positive case for the Union, not the negative case for independence. We are talking about the things that are bad rather than the things that are good about the Union at present."

There is increasing concern among Tories on both sides of the Border that a Nationalist government in Edinburgh, combined with a surge of English resentment south of the Border, is pulling the Union apart. Last week, former Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth warned there was a "worm of separatism" eating at "the heart of the Union".

Cook said: "The SNP is engaged at present in wonderful media management. There is a push towards independence in Scotland and it is also there in England, where you have the national TV news talking about how Scots are getting free this and free that.

"We have to make the positive case for the Union. The whole nation benefits. We should be setting out that position. The positive case is not being made." Conservative support for the SNP would ensure that such a referendum could go ahead. The SNP is committed to publishing a bill setting up the referendum within the first 100 days of gaining office. Along with Tory support, the SNP could also bank on the votes of the two Greens and independent MSP Margo MacDonald, giving them 66 of the Parliament's 129 votes.

The Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie is reluctant to support the idea, but she is now coming under pressure from several of her own MSPs and party activists to swing behind it. The issue is understood to have been raised at recent party meetings, including at least one attended by Goldie herself. One Conservative MSP said last night: "We should definitely support the SNP's referendum. The sooner the better, because it will help clear the air."

The drive also has the support of Tory MPs south of the Border close to party leader David Cameron. One said: "I would totally back this idea. It sounds eminently sensible."

SNP TO END TUITION FEES

SNP Education Secretary - Fiona Hyslop MSP

The SNP has confirmed plans to abolish the graduate endowment fee for Scottish university students. The Scottish government will introduce legislation that will see all students starting university from this autumn exempt from the £2,000 graduate endowment fee.

Addressing the Scottish parliament, Education secretary Fiona Hyslop said the endowment fee – introduced by the previous Scottish executive to replace tuition fees – had "clearly failed". She told MSPs: "Not only does it impact on graduates as a 'back-end' tuition fee, but the law on this actually states that not one penny of the fee can go towards paying for learning or teaching at university. "This is the worst of both worlds."

Scottish students studying at a Scottish university are exempt from tuition fees but pay a £2,289 fee upon graduation. Ms Hyslop said two-thirds of graduates were opting not to pay this and instead adding the charge to their student loan.

The Scottish education secretary continued: "It must therefore be wrong to burden our graduates with debt and deny them every possible opportunity to contribute to a wealthier and fairer Scotland. It is a wrong that they begin their working life encumbered by financial pressures and it is a wrong this new Scottish government intends to put right."

The SNP will bring forward legislation this autumn and hopes the policy will be in place by April 2008.

However, it is dependent upon support from other parties. This is likely to come from the Liberal Democrats and Scottish greens, after the Tories dismissed the policy as a "populist stunt" and Labour said it would not support it.

James Alexander, president of the NUS in Scotland, welcomed the announcement as a "very positive first step" from the SNP .

HOLIDAY FIRM BANS WELSH SPEECH IN WALES!

Staff at Thomas Cook's Bangor shop in Gwynedd have been told all work conversations must be in English. The firm said it must ensure "clear communication at all times."

The Commission for Racial Equality in Wales says it will write to Thomas Cook asking the firm to explain why staff have been asked not to speak Welsh. The firm told staff they must conduct business conversations in English, as it is the UK's common language. The Welsh Language Board said it was "disappointed" and it would ask the company to change its position. It emerged last week that staff at the Bangor store - one of the areas of Wales where Welsh speaking is strongest - had been asked to use only English in business.

A Thomas Cook spokeswoman confirmed the policy applied to all non-English languages. Concerns were raised in the Bangor travel agent A company statement said: "Thomas Cook requests that all staff speak English when discussing work-related matters in the work place. "This ensures clear communication at all times and is respectful to team members who do not speak other languages." Thomas Cook employs staff from many cultural backgrounds, therefore the company appreciates its staff may want to talk to colleagues in other languages for anything that is not business related".

The Commission for Racial Equality in Wales has warned that the policy might be in breach of the Race Relations Act. Wales Commissioner, the Reverend Aled Edwards, said the promotion of good relations was their "paramount concern". He would not comment on the particular case, but added: "The Commission for Racial Equality does have a power to investigate through its legal committee and also if it sees fit to start a formal investigation but I think common sense and courtesy would be the best option."

Meri Huws, chair of the Welsh Language Board, said there was "disappointment" that a large private sector company had decided to take this decision. She said the Welsh Language Act does not cover the rights of the individual in the work place. But she added it was "a very surprising decision, in the light of the number of private sector companies, large and small, that are choosing to use the language in terms of marketing, in terms of services to their customers, and generally in day-to-day work place activity".

LET SCOTLAND DECIDE ON TRIDENT AND ABORTION - CARDINAL

Cardinal O'Brien to Britain: Let Scotland Make its Own Laws

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh has stated that the Parliament of Scotland should be able to decide important national issues such as abortion for itself, the Scotsman reports. Cardinal O’Brien indicated that the recent turn-over in the government of Scotland reflects a growing dissatisfaction among Scottish citizens about the limits that are currently in place on the Scottish Parliament. He was referring to the May 3 elections in which the Scottish National Party (SNP), the party working for independence from Britain, was voted into power, replacing the formerly popular Scottish Labour Party.

Since the Scottish Parliament was re-established after a 1997 referendum, ending a 300-year-old merger of the Scottish and British parliaments, the parliament has been limited in the issues it may decide to areas of education and training, local government, economic development, health and environment, sports and the arts. Even within these areas the United Kingdom Westminster Court has the power to over-rule decisions and to decide major controversial topics.

Recently, Cardinal O’Brien called for the local Scottish parliament to be able to rule on abortion within the country as well as to have an official say on Trident, UK’s nuclear armament system. Both issues have caused a great deal of controversy within Scotland.

The Scotsman quotes the Archbishop saying, “It was as if Scotland wasn't grown-up enough to deal with something like Trident, adoption or abortion, and I think voters were fed up of that. In many ways, people have been disappointed with what has come out of the Scottish Parliament... and they are looking for a greater lead from our Scottish Parliament and Executive.”

SALMOND JOINS QUEENS 'PRIVY COUNCIL'

Alex Salmond is to be made a member of the Privy Council, the prestigious group of senior politicians and judges that advises the Queen, it was announced yesterday. His appointment will mean that Scotland's first nationalist First Minister has the right to call himself "the Right Honourable". The First Minister will join more than 500 former cabinet ministers and senior judges who make up the council, which rarely meets in full.

Scotland's three previous First Ministers, Donald Dewar, Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell, have all been made Privy Counsellors. Members include Donald Stewart, a former SNP leader, as well as George Reid, the SNP's former presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, although he joined after he had resigned his party's whip to take up office. Membership will be for life, unless Mr Salmond takes the unusual step of deciding to resign from the group. He was nominated by Tony Blair, and informed of the decision in the Prime Minister's first communication with Mr Salmond since his election a month ago.

The Prime Minister did not congratulate the nationalist leader after his historic win in the Scottish Parliament elections and has yet to reply to a formal letter from Mr Salmond over the possible prison transfer of the Lockerbie bomber. Mr Salmond said he was "delighted" to accept Mr Blair's nomination.

He told MSPs that the note "tells me that her majesty the Queen has graciously asked me to join the Privy Council. I'm delighted to accept. "So there we have it, after 28 days I've received a letter by royal command."

Aides said last night that the First Minister felt it was "fitting" for his position to accept the nomination. The brief letter from 10 Downing Street, signed by Mr Blair, said: "I am writing to let you know that I propose to submit your name to The Queen with a recommendation that she may be graciously pleased to approve that you be sworn of Her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council. I should be glad to know if this would be agreeable to you."

Members of the Privy Council are allowed to call themselves "the Right Honourable", unlike MPs who only have the right to be addressed as Honourable. Membership could also have another benefit for Mr Salmond, in his capacity as the MP for Banff and Buchan. Privy counsellors are given priority when being called to speak in the House of Commons.

SNP DELIVERS ON PLEDGE TO SAVE HOSPITALS

SNP Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon MSP

A key manifesto pledge has been delivered with the announcement that two hospital accident and emergency departments earmarked for closure will now be saved. In one of her first major announcements since becoming health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon said the Executive will reverse the decision to close emergency units at Monklands in Lanarkshire and Ayr Hospital.

Andy Kerr, Labour's health spokesman and a former health minister, said he believed the strategy developed by the boards was best for the future of services. But Karen Whitefield, Labour MSP for Airdrie and Shotts - whose constituency includes Monklands - welcomed the commitment to keep the hospital's A&E unit. John Reid, the Home Secretary, whose constituency covers Monklands, has also spoken out against the closure.

ALEX SALMOND ELECTED AS FIRST MINISTER

See Video

Alex Salmond has made political history after becoming the first Scottish Nationalist to be elected first minister of Scotland. The SNP leader was voted into office in parliament by 49 votes to 46, after he was supported by the Greens. The Lib Dems and the Conservatives abstained.

Mr Salmond will head the first minority administration since devolution, saying he would seek parliament's approval "policy by policy".

He also hit the ground running by naming his cabinet and ministers. The Scottish Parliament election almost two weeks ago saw the SNP win 47 seats, just one ahead of Scottish Labour, while the Scots Liberal Democrats were left with 16.

The Scottish Conservatives have 17 MSPs, although one of their number, Alex Fergusson, has taken up the politically neutral job of presiding officer. The Scottish Greens have two MSPs and the colourful Independent Margo MacDonald, who abstained from the first minister vote altogether, was also re-elected.

Mr Salmond was voted first minister after seeing off a final challenge from Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell. He became the first SNP member to win power in the party's 73-year history. His election was greeted with applause and cheering in the Scottish Parliament chamber.

Mr Salmond described Holyrood as a "parliament of minorities", but denied claims that Scotland had become a divided nation. "I believe Scotland is ready for change, ready for reform," he told MSPs

"We're a small nation but we've got a big future."

Mr McConnell, the former first minister, congratulated Mr Salmond on his victory and said he would be proud to lead the largest opposition party the Scottish Parliament has ever had. He promised that Labour would not oppose for its own sake, but he also delivered a warning to his successor.

"Voltaire once said that governments need both shepherds and butchers and I think Alex may need to be more of a shepherd than a butcher in his new role, looking around this flock here and trying to secure majorities for his policies," said Mr McConnell.

Mr Salmond said he would now go forward in a minority administration by appealing for support "policy by policy" across the chamber.

This will make it difficult for the SNP to achieve one of its main goals of holding a referendum on Scottish independence.

He added: "In this century there are limits to what governments can achieve. But one thing any government I lead will never lack is ambition for Scotland."

Mr Salmond will also embark on a shake-up, cutting the number of departments from nine to six.

CORNISH NATIONALISTS CELEBRATE AS MEBYON KERNOW ACHIEVES 'BEST EVER' RESULTS

Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall has managed its best-ever round of election results following Thursday’s vote for Cornwall’s district and town and parish councils. After putting forward its largest number of election candidates (33, of which 24 stood for district council seats), MK won seven district council seats, seventeen town/city council seats and four parish council places.

Speaking after the election, Party Leader Dick Cole described the election result as a very good one for MK.

“We are extremely pleased to have polled well throughout Cornwall. As a small political party, it is a great achievement to win local government seats and we have done especially well to be represented on four of Cornwall’s six district councils as well as a number of town and parish councils. As Party Leader, I would like to thank everyone who supported the campaign of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall.”

In the 2007 district council elections, MK put forward 24 candidates of which seven were successful. By contrast, the Labour party put forward 30 candidates in Cornwall of which four were successful while UKIP nominated 27 candidates. Only one was successful. According to the BBC website, the United Kingdom Independence Party won only five council seats over the whole of ‘England’ – less than what MK managed in Cornwall.

Plaid Cymru leader - Ieuan Wyn Jones

PLAID JUBILANT AFTER WINNING 15 SEATS IN WELSH ASSEMBLY

Plaid Cymru have made a net gain of 3 seats taking the party up to 15 seats in the Welsh Assembly. The Tories only managed a net gain of 1 seat (a total of 12) in the Assembly and the Liberal Democrats remained stagnant on 6, whilst Labour fell by 3 to 26 seats.

Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people in Wales who voted for Plaid and all the volunteers, staff and candidates who worked so hard during the campaign.

“This is a fantastic result for Plaid. We are the party that has truly gained during this election with the Tories only up 1 seat and the Lib Dems stagnant on 6. As in Scotland it appears that the “Cameron effect” has had little or no impact in Wales.

“I am very excited at the potential of our new team in the assembly. We have made ground all over Wales and have got a diverse group of Assembly Members mixing youth with experience and covering all areas of the country.”

SNP WINS SCOTTISH ELECTIONS: SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY EMERGES AS LARGEST PARTY IN SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT IN HARD FOUGHT CONTEST

Also: 'Sore Losers' Labour mount legal challenge against result,  Labour loses grip on Local Government 

The SNP won the first election in its history in dramatic fashion yesterday, condemning Labour to defeat in Scotland for the first time in 50 years and changing the face of British politics for ever. The Nationalists emerged as the largest party in the Scottish Parliament at the end of two chaotic and tense days of voting, counting and confusion.

The SNP secured a wafer-thin victory over Labour, by only one seat, with the result coming down to the final declaration from the Highlands and Islands. In an election that was marred by the most serious problem with invalid voting papers that the country has seen, it took until 6pm yesterday - 20 hours after the polls closed - for Alex Salmond, the SNP leader, to claim victory.

His party won 47 of the 129 seats at Holyrood, with Labour one behind on 46. The Conservatives were third, with 17 MSPs, while the Liberal Democrats took 16 seats. The Greens were down to two MSPs, with Margo MacDonald, an independent, re-elected on the Lothians list. Mr Salmond was cheered by a triumphant crowd at the Hub in Edinburgh when he made his victory speech.

But he was deliberately conciliatory, aware he needs to find ways of reaching agreement with the Liberal Democrats if he is to fulfil his dream of a credible and trusted SNP-led administration. "My approach to that will be one of goodwill. I think there is a progressive coalition available which wants to take Scotland forward," he said.

Mr Salmond promised to introduce a new style of government to Scotland. "It's a difference of attitude and style, a difference of not how we approach the people who agree with us, but the people who remain to be convinced," he said.

"I don't quite know how we are going to configure that coalition of the progressive forces, but we will go forward with an attitude which will look for the goodwill which I know is there."

The Liberal Democrat MSPs will meet today to discuss their approach to coalition negotiations but, with the party slipping from 17 seats to 16, Nicol Stephen, their leader, is not in as strong a position as he would have hoped.

The defeat for Labour will cause major ructions throughout the party, and not just in Scotland. It has been 50 years since Labour lost an election north of the Border and the repercussions will be long and severe, with a detailed policy and strategy review expected.

The election proved to be a classic two-horse race, with the jarring battle between Labour and the SNP squeezing all the other parties, particularly the smaller ones. The Conservatives won 17 seats, a reduction of one from the 2003 result, but ended up in third place, just ahead of the Liberal Democrats.

Only three MSPs were elected from outwith the four main parties. Two Greens were returned - Robin Harper in Edinburgh and Patrick Harvie in Glasgow - along with the independent Ms MacDonald. The Scottish Socialist Party was wiped out after eight years in parliament and the Solidarity leader, Tommy Sheridan, lost his seat after being in Holyrood for the same period.

Mr Sheridan suggested that the severe problems over the 100,000 invalid ballot papers across the country had denied him a place in the parliament. However, the socialist firebrand said he was not contemplating a legal challenge.

As the inquest started into the fiasco, it emerged that thousands of voters had misunderstood the ballot papers and filled them in the wrong way. This was the first time that voters had been presented with three different electoral systems on two different ballot papers and many failed to cope with the instructions.

There were also problems with the electronic counting machines that were being used for the first time. Some of the results were very close, with the number of invalid ballot papers larger than the victory margin in a sixth of seats. In Cunninghame North, for instance, the SNP's Kenneth Gibson beat the Labour candidate Allan Wilson by only 48 votes, and there were just under 1,100 spoilt papers.

A furious Mr Salmond said the first thing he would do if he became First Minister would be to commission a full, independent, judicial inquiry into the problems to make sure they never happened again.

The shape of Scotland's town halls also changed dramatically over the course of the election. Labour lost what was left of its grip on Scotland's councils and now controls only two of the country's 32 local authorities. Turnout was estimated to be around 52 per cent for the Holyrood poll - an improvement on the 49 per cent in 2003, but not nearly as big as electoral experts had hoped, with such a high-profile election.

The lone independent MSP former SNP MSP Margo MacDonald moved quickly to rule out any involvement in a coalition saying this would ruin her status as an independent. The SNP could form a working coalition if they can reach a compromise with the Liberal Democrats and Greens. Otherwise they may attempt to rule Holyrood as a minority administration seeking support on an issue by issue basis.

SNP 47 seats
Labour 46
Conservative 17
Lib/Dem 16
Greens 2
Ind (Margo Macdonald) 1

Labour to challenge poll result - Branded 'Sore Losers' by SNP

The Labour party is planning to snatch electoral victory from the Nationalists by preparing a legal challenge over a Holyrood seat which the SNP won by a handful of votes. Labour party lawyers are planning to contest the result in Cunninghame North, which the Nationalists won by just 48 votes, giving them a one-seat victory.

But with an estimated 1,000 spoiled ballot papers having been declared at the count, and amid allegations of missing ballot papers, the party has begun moves to have the entire election reviewed and, if necessary, taken to an Electoral Court.

Labour party managers in the constituency have also written to the count's returning officer to demand that all the spoiled ballot papers be made publicly available and re-examined. They believe the errors disproportionately affected the party in the count, and led to their loss.

Any review of the result would throw last Thursday's dramatic election into chaos. If Labour managed to overturn the result in their favour, they would overtake the SNP as the biggest party, handing them four more years as the leading party at Holyrood.

The SNP branded Labour "sore losers" over the attempts last night, and insisted that there was no way that any legal challenge would be accepted.

INDEPENDENCE 'COULD FUEL RECORD GROWTH'

INDEPENDENCE could lead to record economic growth and leave the average Scottish family thousands of pounds better off, a free market economic think-tank claimed today. A research paper published by the Adam Smith Institute, said that Scotland could emulate Ireland's recent economic success if the same policies are followed.

Instead of current growth rates that trail the rest of the country, Scotland ten years into independence could out-perform the UK, the report claimed. The paper, Independent Scotland: The Road to Riches by international economist Gabriel Stein of Lombard Street Research, found that from 1992 to 2004, Scotland's gross value added growth was only 87 per cent of that of the UK.

If an independent Scotland reduced taxes, cut spending and created a business-friendly environment, the country's growth rate over a five-year period could move from 4.7 per cent to Ireland's 7 per cent, he said.

The paper claimed that a further five years of Scottish growth at that level, and before diminishing returns set in, would lead to a more than two-thirds increase in GDP. Mr Stein said that by contrast the rest of the UK would grow by just over one-quarter.

REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR A MILLION VOTES FOR INDEPENDENCE

Independence First, the referendum campaign has asked for one million Scots to vote for a referendum on independence. The referendum campaign recently held a successful march and rally on Saturday 31/03. Speaking at Independence First’s national meeting  in Glasgow on 14/04, Press Officer Joe Middleton told assembled members: "Independence First want people to vote for candidates who support a referendum on independence. We only need around a million votes, in total in both FPTP and PR elements to gain an absolute majority in the Scottish parliament to push through a referendum."

Mr Middleton also urged any parties supporting more powers for the parliament to “put up or shut up”.

He said “Any party which is proposing more powers for our parliament must explain exactly how they are going to achieve those powers in the face of a hostile Labour run Westminster Government. Since no party has formulated any such plans we can only conclude that their talk of more powers is hot air. In the Liberal Democrats case we know they have been in coalition with Labour for two terms but have gained zero concessions on new powers from Westminster.”

He added “The Tories have been dropping hints that they favour more fiscal powers for the parliament, however they have no actual plans for this and historically we know that the Tories tend to say very different things in opposition to what they say when in power! Independence First urge both these parties to put up or shut up and for Scottish pollsters to refrain from asking meaningless questions about more powers which are not on offer at this election.”

“The only way to genuinely increase the powers of the Scottish parliament is to vote for a democratic independence referendum. We urge the Scottish people to do just that on May 3rd.”

REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN GOES CULTURAL AND CALLS FOR ONE MILLION VOTES FOR INDEPENDENCE

INDEPENDENCE FIRST, the referendum campaign has asked for one million Scots to vote for a referendum on independence. Commenting on the second successful demonstration for an independence referendum which was held on Saturday 31/03, Independence First Press Officer Joe Middleton said:

"It was great to see the banners of all the pro independence organisations marching together again united behind our call for a referendum."

"While we had a number of MSP supporters at the rally including Colin Fox (SSP) and Campbell Martin (independent) We made a conscious move this time to not rely on our existing political supporters."

Eric Canning and Lloyd Quinan

"Lloyd Quinan the event co-ordinator and Eric Canning our Honorary National Convenor both spoke briefly, however I think Lloyd spoke for all of us when he said 'we all know why we're here, it's to demand a democratic referendum for the people of Scotland as soon as it can possibly be arranged' which I think said everything that needed to be said on the political side."

Ted Christopher, Dougie MacLean and Dick Gaughan perform Caledonia

Mouse Eat Mouse

Project Bona Fide

"Dick Gaughan, Mouse Eat Mouse, Ted Christopher, Project Bona fide and Dougie Maclean (of 'Caledonia' fame) all sang for us outside the Scottish Parliament and each performer gave their own heartfelt reasons for supporting a referendum on independence. Basically we had a wonderful free live concert this time as well as our march and I think everyone left with a very upbeat positive feeling about the possibility of taking a further step towards independence at this election."

Mr Middleton added: "Independence First want people to vote for candidates who support a referendum on independence, we only need around a million votes, in both FPTP and PR elements to gain an absolute majority in the parliament and we think that's well within the grasp of the independence movement if we continue to work together."

Independence First's second major demonstration on 31/03.

For live videos of the march/demo/rally see the Independence First page on this site.

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