No movement in independence talks (From The Northern Echo)
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No movement in independence talks
4:32pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011
Prime Minister David Cameron said he had made little progress in talks with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond over a referendum on independence.
Speaking shortly after the face-to-face talks in Edinburgh, Mr Cameron said his "absolute priority" was to preserve the United Kingdom.
He said that voters in Scotland should be presented as soon as possible with a "simple, straightforward and legal" question over whether they want to remain in the UK or not.
And he held out the prospect of further talks on increased devolution of powers if Scotland votes to remain in the Union.
Mr Cameron described his discussions with Mr Salmond as "constructive", but told the BBC: "On the issue of independence, separating Scotland, leaving the United Kingdom, I am afraid there wasn't much progress.
"I believe that we need to put a straightforward and simple and legal question to the Scottish people in good time, which is to ask the straightforward question 'Do you want to stay in the United Kingdom...' - and I hope that is what people will vote for - '... or do you want to leave the United Kingdom?'"
