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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New referendum strategy for SNP | New referendum strategy for SNP |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Scottish government has devised a new strategy designed to protect their plans for an independence referendum from being killed off at Holyrood. | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond will put forward a bill for a referendum in draft form only, BBC Scotland can reveal. | First Minister Alex Salmond will put forward a bill for a referendum in draft form only, BBC Scotland can reveal. |
| This would allow the consultation process to be prolonged up to and beyond the UK general election. | |
| He hopes opposition parties might then allow the referendum to take place. | He hopes opposition parties might then allow the referendum to take place. |
| Mr Salmond promised to introduce a bill for a referendum early this year, but with all three main opposition parties expected to vote against it the minority SNP administration fears their the bill could be killed off within weeks. | Mr Salmond promised to introduce a bill for a referendum early this year, but with all three main opposition parties expected to vote against it the minority SNP administration fears their the bill could be killed off within weeks. |
| But BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said the bill instead could be despatched to a special ad hoc committee, which would have a Labour convener. | But BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said the bill instead could be despatched to a special ad hoc committee, which would have a Labour convener. |
| Tax powers | Tax powers |
| The draft legislation would go out to public consultation, but crucially would not be in Holyrood's hands for decision-making at this stage. | The draft legislation would go out to public consultation, but crucially would not be in Holyrood's hands for decision-making at this stage. |
| The referendum proposals would feature two distinct questions, one asking whether the voter supports independence, and another asking whether they support more devolved powers for the Scottish Parliament. | The referendum proposals would feature two distinct questions, one asking whether the voter supports independence, and another asking whether they support more devolved powers for the Scottish Parliament. |
| Ministers plan to consult on whether "more powers" should be the reform proposals outlined by the Calman Commission or should go further still, perhaps to an option known as Devolution Max, including extensive tax powers. | Ministers plan to consult on whether "more powers" should be the reform proposals outlined by the Calman Commission or should go further still, perhaps to an option known as Devolution Max, including extensive tax powers. |
| Opposition politicians are likely to accuse the SNP of ducking a decision, but the party believes it is a master stroke to ensure their plan survives to the UK general election and beyond. |