David Cameron, British prime minister, has challenged Scotland’s first minister to hold a referendum on independence, paving the way for a vote that could trigger the collapse of the United Kingdom.
Mr Cameron will today offer Alex Salmond the power to hold a legally binding vote on whether Scotland should remain part of the 305-year-old union with England.
The prime minister said he wanted to offer two options: Scotland remaining in the union, or leaving it. At the weekend he said: “Let’s clear up the legal situation and then have a debate about how we bring this to a conclusion. My view is that sooner rather than later would be better.”