Scotland Vote: British Parties Offer ‘Extensive New Powers’ For Voting ‘No’ In Independence Referendum

With just two days left until Scotland votes to remain united with the United Kingdom or go independent, three British political parties are stepping forward promising Scotland “extensive new powers” if they vote “no” in the independence referendum Thursday. The pledge, an offer first submitted to Scotland by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was published in a Scottish newspaper, the New York Times is reporting.

In the letter published by the Daily Record, Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative Party; Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats; and Ed Miliband, head of the opposition Labour Party, made a joint promise to allow Scotland's parliament to determine its own spending, among other undetailed powers to take effect the day after the vote. Unfortunately for Britain, Scotland Minister Alex Salmond doesn’t appear to be buying the offer.

“[They] are willing to say anything in the last few days of the campaign to try to halt the 'yes' momentum — anything except what new power, if any, they might be willing to offer,” a spokesperson for Salmond told the Press Association. “It’s totally inadequate, it’s not enough,” Salmond previously said of the pledge. “It’s not approaching the powers that Scotland needs to create jobs, to save the health service and build a better society.”

On Monday, Cameron spoke out about the vote in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. "Independence would not be a trial separation; it would be a painful divorce," he said. "This is a decision that could break up our family of nations, and rip Scotland from the rest of the U.K. And we must be very clear. There's no going back from this. No re-run. This is a once-and-for-all decision. If Scotland votes yes, the U.K. will split, and we will go our separate ways forever."