PLEASE, SIR, I WANT SOME MORE..

The latest episode in the Scottish independence `debate` causes some alarm.   I think it was on Thursday when Prime Minister David Cameron (sounds a bit Scottish?) travelled up to Edinburgh for a face to face meeting with Scotland`s First Minister Alex Salmond.

It seems there were a number of main areas for discussion - the date for the referendum;  the question to be put on the ballot paper; whether the `devo-max` option should be included on the ballot paper, whether 16 and 17-years olds would be eligible to vote and so on.   Reports suggest that Cameron might grudgingly accept holding the referendum in 2014 on the anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn but there was little or no progress on the other issues.

In the meantime, the House of Lords Constitution Committee chaired by Baroness Jay, have come out and clearly said that the `devo-max` option should not be included on the ballot paper as an alternative to full independence, as to do so could lead to a different tax regime in Scotland and thus would affect the rest of the United Kingdom.   Salmond is insisting that the `devo-max` option should  appear which would provide almost complete independence anyway apart from defence and foreign affairs.

In a strange attempt at bargaining, Cameron has indicated that, if there is a clear `no` vote on the referendum, then he might be prepared to offer even more by way of devolved powers to those already held by the Scottish Parliament, once the referendum is out of the way.  I`m left with the feeling that if he gives yet more ground, then even more will be demanded and there will be no end to Alex Salmond`s ambitions.

It`s all becoming very tiresome, to the point whereby if we in the rest of the UK are given the vote in the referendum on Scottish independence that we deserve - such is the enormity of the issues for all citizens of the UK - then I will happily vote in favour, if for no other reason than to rid ourselves of this meddlesome upstart and his great expectations.