Lib Dems overwhelmingly reject Salmond's referendum bill

6.00.00pm GMT Sat 31st Oct 2009

Commenting after a special session on holding a referendum on Scotland's constitutional future at the party's autumn conference in Dunfermline, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland George Lyon said:

"Alex Salmond's rigged referendum was overwhelmingly rejected by the party. During the deepest recession for a generation it is the wrong time and it is certainly the wrong question.

"Tavish Scott and Liberal Democrat MSPs in the Scottish Parliament have rightly focused on creating jobs, attracting investment and dealing with our broken economy so we can pull Scotland out of recession as quickly as possible.

"I wanted Liberal Democrats to have an open debate on the issue of the referendum and today we got one. The party declared itself open to the possibility of a referendum in the future, but on fair and balanced terms.

"I look forward to continuing that debate towards 2011."

Liberal Democrat Shadow Scotland Secretary Alistair Carmichael MP added:

"The party overwhelmingly rejected Alex Salmond's referendum Bill.

"There was genuine and widespread anger at the rigged question put forward by the SNP.

"The Liberal Democrats are a party that will remain at the heart of the debate on Scotland's constitutional future. But on our terms.

"We are a party that believes in a federal United Kingdom.

"Ross Finnie will continue to lead work within the party as we prepare for the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary elections. "