Douglas Fraser: "A fifth day of Labour confusion"

Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander today challenged Alex Salmond to bring forward his planned referendum when he announces his legislative programme next week.

She laid down the challenge at First Minister's Questions at Holyrood where she faced mockery from Mr Salmond over her public demands for an early referendum.

"The First Minister is the problem when it comes to resolving this issue in the nation's interest," she said.

"The First Minister has a statement next week on his programme for government.

"The question is simply - will he bring forward a referendum Bill in next year's legislative programme next week?"

Mr Salmond shot back: "The answer is, we'll stick to what was laid out in the SNP manifesto on page eight and 15.

"While I would not say Wendy Alexander is the only problem the Labour party has, I think quite convincingly after the last few days that she is not the answer."

Yesterday Labour's attempt to seize the political initiative over the independence referendum backfired spectacularly with Gordon Brown being accused by David Cameron of treating the public "like fools" on the issue.

In another day of confusion, Labour woes were compounded when, in the Commons, the Prime Minister refused publicly to support Ms Alexander's line on the referendum issue. This led to SNP claims that her position as leader of the Scottish Labour Party was now "completely untenable".

Last night, Mr Salmond seized on what he branded the "conflagration" engulfing the Labour Party, saying: "I don't know whether Wendy Alexander is trying to get rid of Gordon Brown or Gordon Brown is trying to get rid of Wendy Alexander or they are both trying to get rid of each other, but the effect it's having is to destroy each other's credibility."

Today, the First Minister is expected to seek to score more political points at question-time in the Scottish Parliament.

To add to the surreal quality of the row, it was made clear Ms Alexander was barred from introducing her own bill to have a pre-2010 referendum as, under Holyrood rules, an opposition party cannot pursue a bill if the Scottish Government has already signalled its intention to introduce such a measure in the parliamentary term.

Ms Alexander insisted she would not quit, claiming she had the support of the PM, Labour MSPs, many party members and the people of Scotland.

At Holyrood, Annabel Goldie, the Scottish Tory leader, accused her and Mr Brown of putting the UK at risk through "incompetence", while Nicol Stephen for the Scottish LibDems said Labour was "very close to meltdown".

At Westminster, the UK Government sought to construct a unified front, insisting Ms Alexander was seeking to highlight the "hollowness" of the Nationalists' stance on a referendum but Labour MPs expressed despair at what they saw as breath-taking ineptitude.

The Prime Minister indicated he was reserving judgment on the issue of a referendum. He referred to the Calman Commission, which is examining the powers of the Scottish Parliament and is due to report next year.

Mr Cameron claimed the PM had "now lost control of the Scottish Labour Party" and last night wrote to him seeking clarification.

He told Mr Brown: "Not only do you appear unable to lead your party in any one direction on this issue of vital importance to the whole of the UK, but you also seem unable even to acknowledge what the Scottish Labour leader is calling for. So is there going to be a referendum or not?" adding: "I am copying this letter to Wendy Alexander in case she is able to assist."

In response, Mr Brown told Mr Cameron his comments "clearly show that you do not understand this important issue", saying how Holyrood procedures meant a referendum bill would take up to a year to complete.

"Wendy Alexander and I are agreed that all parties in favour of the Union have a duty to expose the hollowness of the SNP's position: claiming they favour independence yet wanting to postpone any referendum. I thought the Conservative Party would welcome such an approach," added Mr Brown.