LONDON — With little more than six weeks to go before a referendum on independence for Scotland, the main British political parties promised Tuesday to grant new devolved powers to Scots if they decide to keep their union with the rest of Britain.
The offer came hours ahead of a televised debate between the first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, who supports independence, and the leader of the group opposing independence, Alistair Darling, who was chancellor of the Exchequer in the last Labor government in Britain.
Prime Minister David Cameron spurned a challenge to debate with Salmond on television, on the ground that he will not have a vote in the referendum. Only those living in Scotland may participate.
Cameron’s Conservatives, or Tories, have struggled in Scotland, where some critics portray them as more concerned with England. Strategists appear to have concluded that Salmond will find it harder to debate with Darling, a fellow Scot who is respected, if uncharismatic.
Salmond’s office called the promise from the British parties a “rehash of vague promises and unspecified more powers in the event of a no vote.”