Ross Lydall: David Cameron's non-answer on an independence referendum

A few interesting lines from David Cameron's monthly press conference, which was held this morning. He wants the bankers to "wake up and smell the coffee" with regard to bonuses, and understand that they wouldn't be in jobs - never mind thinking about how to spend their bonuses - if it wasn't for taxpayer support.

However he focused his wrath on top executives - saying he had no wish to deprive the "woman who runs the branch at Auchtermuchty" from receiving a top-up to her basic wage.
Any bonuses that are issued should not be in cash but in shares that could only be redeemed when any taxpayer-funded loans are repaid, he added.

He dodged yet another question about suspicions that Tory donor Lord Ashcroft remains a tax exile: "Someone's tax status is a matter between them and the Inland Revenue."
However he did indicate support for Lib-Dem peer Lord Oakeshott's private member's bill that is currently proceeding through Parliament, which would ban donations from donors not registered in the UK for tax: "I think that is not a bad idea. I'm very happy to see that bill progress."

And he did just enough to increase the pressure on Jacqui Smith when he declared that "she may have some questions to answer" over her decision to claim up to £24,006 a year in parliamentary allowances by living with her sister in south London rather than a "grace and favour" property normally used by the Home Secretary.

Finally, one for the conspiracy theorists. Asked whether, if he became Prime Minister, he would consider an early referendum on Scottish independence to "shoot the SNP's fox", Mr Cameron steered clear of repeating the R-word.

Instead, in reply to the question, (from Conservative Home's Jonathan Isaby) he pledged to "do whatever it takes" to maintain the Union (note the irony in the number of Scottish seats he expects to win).

For completeness, here's what Mr Cameron said: "If we win the election and if, by some miracle, we don't have 25 seats in Scotland and have slightly fewer, then I would be a Prime Minister who would want to govern in the interests of everyone in Scotland.
"I would recognise the shortage of mandate, if you like, in Scotland by getting straight up there and meeting the First Minister and saying, look, anyone who wants to try to work with me, I will work with them. I will make sure my ministers go to Holyrood and listen to committees there. Likewise, Scottish ministers should come to Westminster and engage with the committees here.
"I would do whatever it takes to govern in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom and to try to make sure, that over time, that we can strengthen that United Kingdom. I would be prepared to consider anything to enable us to do that."