ALEX Salmond has warned that UK government claims that an independent Scotland could not pay its welfare bill could “blow referendum talks off course.”
• David Cameron met with Alex Salmond today to discuss the details of the independence referendum
• First Minister ‘hopeful’ an agreement can be reached in the ‘next three weeks’ to be in place by late October
However, the First Minister said he was “positive” about progress towards agreeing the details of a referendum after holding talks with David Cameron in Downing Street today.
But he warned that “there could still be obstacles on the way” although he is still “hopeful” an agreement will be in the “next three weeks” to be in place by late October.
But he made it clear he was angry with claims by work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith that the latest oil revenue figures show Scotland could not meet its welfare bill.
Informal talks took place after a meeting of the joint ministerial council in Downing Street which discussed the problems of the economy and air connectivity.
After the JMC concluded Mr Salmond and Mr Cameron joined by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore.
Ms Sturgeon and Mr Moore then went into detailed discussions at The Scotland Office.
At the JMC Mr Salmond along with other devolved leaders pressed the UK government to release money fort “shovel ready projects”.
Bur Mr Salmond said there was a more positive response to devolving air passenger duty to deal with air connectivity problems.
