Call to rule out early Scottish independence referendum repeat

Alistair Carmichael will challenge Nicola Sturgeon to rule out an early return to the ballot box

Nicola Sturgeon should rule out a rapid second independence referendum, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael is to urge.

Mr Carmichael will address the Liberal Democrat conference in Glasgow later.
He will call on Ms Sturgeon, currently the only candidate to replace Alex Salmond as first minister, to rule out any early push for another referendum.
A spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said public opinion would guide any future ballot.
'Common endeavour' Mr Carmichael is to argue that the issue of bringing Scots together after the poll is a "big test" for the SNP leadership and Ms Sturgeon in particular.

It will be circumstances and public opinion that will determine if and when another referendum takes place”

Spokesman for Nicola Sturgeon

He is expected to say: "We settled the independence question in a way that was legal, fair and decisive - and we won. But now the campaign is over and now we need to move the 45% who voted Yes and the 55% who voted No."

The Scottish secretary will tell delegates: "We can all wave flags, join protests and march if we want to. But wouldn't it be better to set those things aside, to accept the will of the Scottish people, and to put your shoulder to the wheel in our common endeavour?
"For the SNP leadership - for Nicola Sturgeon - this is of course a big test. It is disappointing that she has declined to rule out pushing for a second referendum in less than three years from now."
Ms Sturgeon's spokesman said: "The deputy first minister has made it perfectly clear that she accepts the outcome of the referendum and that the SNP will play a full and constructive part in the deliberations of the Smith Commission.
"Ms Sturgeon has also said that she continues to believe that Scotland should and will become independent, but that it will be circumstances and public opinion that will determine if and when another referendum takes place."
The Smith Commission is the body set up to move forward the devolution of further powers pledged by the pro-Union parties.
Federal UK Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander will also address the referendum result in his own speech.
The Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP is expected to say: "We must use this opportunity not just decentralise power in the rest of the UK, but to reverse the flood tide of centralisation that the SNP have imposed on Scotland over the last seven years.
"Devolution leading to a federal United Kingdom is now within sight."
And Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie will tell the conference: "People want substantial and meaningful change and they will settle for nothing less.
"That change must ripple through the rest of the United Kingdom. Now is not the time for timidity here in Scotland or across the UK.
"The response to the cry from the voters is to be bold and ambitious - that is the answer."