David Cameron avoids anti-cuts protesters

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12 April 2012

David Cameron today avoided angry protests as he made his first visit to Scotland since becoming Prime Minister.

Hundreds of noisy demonstrators had gathered to greet the newly installed PM on his arrival outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

But instead of entering through the Queensberry House entrance at Holyrood as expected, Mr Cameron went straight into the building via the underground car park.

The move meant he avoided about 200 demonstrators gathered outside the main entrance, chanting anti-Tory slogans and carrying banners calling for an end to job cuts.

Mr Cameron is in Scotland to meet First Minister Alex Salmond and opposition party leaders, fulfilling a pledge to visit the country within a week of taking power.

The Prime Minister was accompanied at Holyrood by his new Scottish Secretary, Danny Alexander, who is one of 11 Lib Dems elected in Scotland at the General Election.

The Conservatives secured just one MP in Scotland, failing to break through in any of the other 10 constituencies they targeted.

After the visit to Holyrood, where the Lib Dems and Tories are in opposition along with Labour, he will meet Mr Salmond, the SNP leader.

Mr Cameron will be asked for assurances about devolved powers and will face a plea for an extra £700 million.

Among policies in the Tories' power-sharing deal with the Lib Dems is a commitment to implement the proposals of the Calman commission, including extra tax-varying powers for Holyrood.

Plans for a commission to consider the "West Lothian question", whether MPs representing Scottish seats should vote on matters affecting only other parts of the UK, are also included.

In a letter to the new PM, Mr Salmond demanded an assurance the new Government at Westminster would not change the way the Scottish Government is funded without its consent.

He urged the new UK Government to introduce "as a matter of urgency" measures to transfer to Holyrood control of drink-driving limits, speed limits and air guns.

Mr Cameron has repeatedly promised he would govern Scotland with "respect" if elected and insisted during the campaign that he supported the Union with his "head, heart and soul".

The £700 million request for Scotland includes knock-on funds from Olympic spending, the release of cash from the fossil fuel levy fund and further accelerated spending from the Treasury.

Mr Salmond said he aimed to "stick up for Scotland's interests" in the meeting later at ministerial headquarters, St Andrew's House.

The First Minister told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme today: "The Prime Minister said he will treat Scotland with respect. I intend to take him at his word but obviously a respect agenda has to be about more than just words, it has to be matched by deeds."

The SNP leader also argued the new Tory-Liberal Democrat coalition did not have a mandate in Scotland.

"They clearly don't have a majority of votes or a majority of seats in Scotland, which would constitute a mandate."

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