That makes it all the more essential that the new Westminster government listens to the voice of the people of Scotland. I made very clear before the election that, regardless of how many SNP MPs were elected it would not be a mandate for independence or for a further referendum, and I stand by that.


Any future independence referendum, as I have also made clear, would be a matter for a Holyrood election and would require the electorate to endorse a specific manifesto commitment.


For now, what is required is a relationship of genuine mutual respect and cooperation between governments in Edinburgh and London.


I have already met David Cameron since the election, and the Prime Minister must recognise that the result in Scotland means it simply cannot be business as usual – his government must listen and


12 June 2015


Any future independence referendum, as I have also made clear, would be a matter for a Holyrood election and would require the electorate to endorse a specific manifesto commitment.


cooperate, as anything else would be to defy the democratic will of the people of Scotland.


During the meeting, we had a productive discussion about the Smith Commission proposals and where we might go beyond them. From that, two things of importance were agreed. First, there was a commitment from the Prime Minister that the legislation being drafted will fully implement the Smith Commission proposals and take account of the conclusions of the recent Holyrood committee report.


Second, the Prime Minister agreed that he would look at proposals the Scottish Government will bring forward on how we go beyond the Smith Commission in various important areas.


There are huge issues and challenges ahead – not least the looming question of the UK and Scotland’s place in Europe. I have made clear that a key requirement of the Prime Minister’s in-out referendum should be a “double-lock” requiring the assent of all four UK home nations before any withdrawal from the EU, and that is a condition I reiterate.


Scotland spoke and spoke decisively at the General Election, and the future of Scottish and UK politics will never be quite the same again.


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