Leaders pledge powers in final push before Scottish vote

September 17, 2014 02:40

The leaders of Britain's three main parties on today issued a joint pledge to give the Scottish parliament more powers if voters reject independence, in a final drive to stop the United Kingdom from splitting.

The promise was published on the front page of leading Scottish newspaper the Daily Record and was printed to look like a yellowed scroll with the signatures and faces of the three party leaders.

Published under the headline "The Vow", the promise by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband, and Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg re-iterates previous commitments.

"We agreed that: The Scottish Parliament is permanent and extensive new powers for the Parliament will be delivered," the text read.

"People want to see change. A 'No' vote will deliver faster, safer and better change than separation."

Pro-independence Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond immediately hit back, calling it a "last minute desperate offer of nothing".

He said on BBC Radio Scotland that it was "not going to dissuade people in Scotland from the huge opportunity of taking Scotland's future into Scotland's hands this coming Thursday".

Polls have showed a late surge in support for independence, putting the outcome on a knife edge, after the "No" led for many months. The "No" is still marginally ahead in most of the polls, more of which were due to be published on Wednesday on the final day of campaigning.

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