Alex Salmond went to the home of one of America's most revered founding fathers yesterday to invoke the spirit of revolution against rule from London.

The First Minister visited Monticello, where Thomas Jefferson lived, and delivered a speech at Virginia University, which compared Scotland's position now with that of the 13 American colonies in 1776.

"Where you chose independence, we have yet to follow," he said, adding "the moral and practical case is overwhelming".

The main thrust of this second of Mr Salmond's American trilogy of speeches, during his week-long visit to the US, was to make the case for an independence referendum.

He said some in the UK did not want to consider independence for Scotland: "And most extraordinary of all, there are politicians who consider that it is they, not the people, who should arbitrate and determine the nature of change."

Citing the example of Jefferson, the First Minister went on: "What I absolutely demand is that the decision is made with the clear direction of the people expressed in a referendum."

The case for more powers being transferred to Scotland was boosted yesterday by a poll showing English opinion is behind Scots deciding their own tax levels. Increasing numbers feel Scotland gets too large a share of UK public spending.