Scottish First Minister insists on independence referendum

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has insisted with the UK government that his government has a mandate to hold a referendum on independence in 2014.

It comes after the UK government in London said such a move would be unlawful without Westminster's approval.

But a spokesman for Salmond said Scottish National Party ministers were "entirely confident" of their plans.

In what can be seen as a direct challenge to the legal authority of the UK government, the Scottish First Minister pledged a referendum "made, built, and run in Scotland".

His statement came less than an hour after Michael Moore, the Scottish Secretary, told MPs that only ministers at Westminster have the legal power to call a valid legal referendum on Scotland's future.

This move raised the stakes in the political confrontation David Cameron has triggered with the First Minister and his Scottish National Party over the future of the United Kingdom.

Salmond said he wants to use his majority in the Scottish Parliament to trigger a referendum no earlier than 2014. The Prime Minister has decided to force the issue by trying to instigate a vote more quickly than that, with Conservative ministers keen for a referendum next year. Big differences also remain between the two governments on the timing of the referendum, who would run it and on whether 16 and 17-year-olds could vote.