William Hague:Scots will be disappointed, disillusioned and depressed

William Hague speaking to BBC Radio Scotland

Hague Hints at Possible Devolution Reverse

Mr Hague said Scottish voters should look to the future and that four or five years into a Scottish parliament they would be disappointed, disillusioned and depressed, and living in a high tax ghetto.

He made it clear that a Tory administration might well seek to abolish the Scottish parliament if it was the flop he was convinced it would be. But the statement, in an interview with BBC Radio Scotland, appeared to reverse his previous stand that future Tory governments would be obliged to honour the result of this year's referendum.

In a statement two weeks ago to Radio 4's The World This Weekend, Mr Hague said if the referendum supported devolution, a future Conservative government would not be able -- and might not want -- to get rid of a Scottish parliament. He said: "If they voted for it in a referendum, we will have to respect that."

Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar said that following Mr Hague's earlier statements, the Conservatives' policy was now "extremely confusing". His previous statement had been "considered", he said, and it was clear he was listening and learning. But the new position was "totally different. It's all doom and gloom and a mish-mash of scare stories".

He said: "It's a mistake and I hope he has third thoughts and goes back to his earlier position."

However, Nigel Evans MP, the Conservative spokesman on the constitution, said a referendum had been held devolution in 1979, which had rejected it, and the question would be put again in September. It would therefore be wrong to say there would never be another referendum at some stage, even though it might be many years down the line.

Mr Robertson argued that Scots on average earnings could pay up to £1,592.81 over four years - in contrast to Mr Dewar's claim that devolution would cost only £5-a-year per head.

The Tories calculated their figure on the basis of average Scottish earnings of £18,907, extended and inflation-indexed over four years, and alleged setting-up costs of £78 million-a-year in the first term.

The figures assume a 3p "Tartan Tax" is levied for each year of a four-year parliament.

Mr Robertson said: "The Government is trying to con the people of Scotland by claiming that their devolution plans would not cost Scots dearly. These flawed proposals would impoverish Scotland and turn our country into a high-tax ghetto, placing a severe burden on all Scottish taxpayers for years to come."

His tax claim, in a radio interview, was immediately attacked by the pro-devolution Scotland Forward group, which retorted: "Mr Hague's party made Scotland a high tax fiefdom through imposing the poll tax, forcing councils to increase the council tax, and imposing VAT on fuel."

And the leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, Alex Salmond, accused Mr Hague of "regurgitating the Tories' hard-line and arrogant opposition to constitutional change".

BBC Correspondent Emma Simpson assesses the Scottish devolution campaign so far - Dur. 2'35