Alex Salmond has risked the wrath of his grassroots support by stressing the central role the ”magnificent” Queen would play after independence.
The First Minister played up his Royalist credentials after the monarch gave a landmark speech to both Houses of Parliament in London to mark her Diamond Jubilee.
The SNP leader reiterated that the Queen would remain head of state north of the border even if Scots vote for independence in the referendum planned for autumn 2014.
He also revealed he will lead a debate on the jubilee at the Scottish Parliament in May and predicted the anniversary will be celebrated ”enthusiastically” across Scotland.
But Mr Salmond faced criticism from opponents, who pointed out that as recently as 2002 the SNP promised a referendum on abolishing the monarchy within a year of obtaining independence.
In October that year a draft written constitution for an independent Scotland guaranteed that the future of the monarchy would be put to the people of Scotland.
However, on Tuesday Mr Salmond said: ”Throughout her 60 years reign, Her Majesty the Queen has always had a very sure touch and that’s as it should be.
”I’m just very happy and pleased on this Diamond Jubilee year of celebration that all of the communities across the Commonwealth and all of the countries in which she’s head of state can celebrate a truly remarkable lady and a truly remarkable monarch.”
Asked for his personal view of the Queen, the First Minister described her as a ”very, very wise lady”, adding: ”She has a great sense of humour.”
Mr Salmond continued: “When you’re speaking to Her Majesty the Queen, it’s as well to reflect that she knows a great deal more about the country’s affairs than any one of her First Ministers or Prime Ministers.
”She has seen a great deal more than any of us has and a lot of that wisdom comes across. She has a genuine, entertaining and enquiring mind. She always asks direct questions about things that are going on.
”She incredibly well-informed she is a magnificent monarch to have.”
Several prominent Nationalist politicians, including Perthshire South and Kinross-shire MSP Roseanna Cunningham, are known to be staunch republicans.
Pushed on the controversial change in approach, Mr Salmond said: ”Policies change and I think that was an intelligent change of policy. It took place some considerable time ago.”
But Scottish Conservative Constitution spokesman David McLetchie demanded clarity on the SNP’s position.
”Alex Salmond likes to say that the Queen would still be Queen,” he said. ”But if he got his way she would be the Queen of two separate countries and not the Queen of the United Kingdom that is a fundamental difference.”
A spokesman for the SNP said: ”Since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, the SNP’s policy is for a referendum on a White Paper setting out the full details of independence, which will be published in November 2013, with the referendum taking place in autumn 2014, and will include the SNP’s long-standing policy for the Queen and her successors to be head of state.”
Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Wire