alex Salmond yesterday stepped up his demands for Westminster to relinquish more powers to Scotland as he was confirmed as the first minister of his nationalist government. Salmond celebrated his unopposed election as the head of the devolved government at Holyrood by calling for the Scottish parliament to be allowed to set its own excise duties, be given control over domestic broadcasting and have the right to send Scottish ministers and officials on all UK delegations to the EU. The demands increase the prospects of a confrontation with David Cameron's government, which is already preparing to cede powers to Holyrood over setting income tax rates and immediate borrowing powers of at least ?2bn. Cameron is expected to consider some changes to the legislation - particularly on borrowing powers - but Westminster sources have hinted that ministers would be prepared to see the bill rejected by Salmond if his demands were unreasonable or too difficult to implement. Salmond said his party's lan