FORSYTH CALLS FOR SCOTS REFERENDUM.

Byline: By EMILY COOK

FORMER Secretary of State for Scotland Lord Forsyth yesterday backed a call from a senior Tory for an independence referendum within a year, claiming the SNP would lose a vote "hands down."

Scottish Tory vice-chairman Richard Cook yesterday told BBC Scotland's Politics Show an early poll would "clear the air" over Scotland's constitutional future and remove any threat to potential investment in the country.

Lord Forsyth confirmed Mr Cook had raised the idea with him at a dinner in the House of Commons on Thursday to celebrate 300 years of Union. He said: "There is a case for having a referendum because the Nationalists would lose hands down.

"But it's not for me to decide to decide what Conservative Party policy in Scotland is."

Tory leader Annabel Goldie insisted last night she would not back such a referendum call and would concentrate on "bread and butter" issues.

A party spokesman said: "Barely a quarter of Scots back independence. It's not even on our radar screen."

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ARGUMENTS: Lord Forsyth

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Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Date:	Jun 18, 2007
Words:	174
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Topics:	Referendum Political aspects Referendums Political aspects