Salmond accuses UK PM of hypocrisy

The Scottish National Party (SNP) chief has attacked Cameron for applying double standards over his attitude towards the Scottish and proposed EU referendums by considering an in/out referendum on the European Union membership while refusing to give Salmond the same control over the Scottish independence vote.

“It is extraordinary that the Prime Minister should be suggesting a referendum on the European Union while apparently oblivious to the contradictions it reveals in his attitude towards Scotland's referendum,” Salmond said.

After the UK Prime Minister told the Commons on June 2 that the British public should provide “fresh consent” for EU membership, Salmond said Cameron has failed to propose a question or timescale for a public ballot, whereas the SNP has already devised both for the vote in Scotland.

Criticizing Cameron for threatening to obstruct the Scottish independence referendum by attaching conditions, Salmond added, “He is suggesting an EU poll without any definition of what the question would be, at a time hitherto to be specified for which he has no electoral mandate whatsoever, while at the same time threatening to obstruct a Scottish poll for which there is a clear mandate and timetable.”

Alex Salmond has scheduled to hold Scottish independence referendum in autumn 2014, believing the split would ensure more prosperity, since it would allow Scotland to take advantage of its oil, gas and other energy resources.

However, earlier on June, Britain’s former Labour Chancellor, Alistair Darling launched a campaign against the Scottish independence called the Better Together campaign, warning Scots that there is “no way back” if they choose to leave the United Kingdom.