This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8535946.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Scots referendum bill published | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Scottish government has published the details of its proposed referendum on independence. | |
| Under the draft bill, voters would have the option of voting for either new powers for the Scottish Parliament or full independence from the UK. | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond described the Referendum Bill as an opportunity for Scots to have a say on their nation's future. | |
| Opposition parties have said they will vote down the proposals. | |
| The draft bill unveiled by Mr Salmond will now go out to consultation until after the General Election. | |
| Speaking before the launch, a spokesman for Mr Salmond said the bill would set out options for both full independence and enhanced devolution by extending the powers of the Scottish Parliament. | |
| He said: "It's a hugely positive step which we believe will engage all the people of Scotland and the challenge to the opposition parties is to support the right of the people to have their say on Scotland's future. | He said: "It's a hugely positive step which we believe will engage all the people of Scotland and the challenge to the opposition parties is to support the right of the people to have their say on Scotland's future. |
| "The opposition parties and everybody else in Scotland are very welcome to contribute to the consultation." | "The opposition parties and everybody else in Scotland are very welcome to contribute to the consultation." |
| New body | New body |
| The minority SNP government published a white paper on Scotland's constitutional future on St Andrew's Day last year which set out a range of options, including significant new powers for Holyrood as well as its favoured choice of full independence from the UK. | The minority SNP government published a white paper on Scotland's constitutional future on St Andrew's Day last year which set out a range of options, including significant new powers for Holyrood as well as its favoured choice of full independence from the UK. |
| Mr Salmond announced earlier this month that the bill would be published in draft form first, which would prevent opposition parties killing it off before the forthcoming general election. | Mr Salmond announced earlier this month that the bill would be published in draft form first, which would prevent opposition parties killing it off before the forthcoming general election. |
| The first minister said at the time he believed opposition parties wanted to "grab control of the Referendum Bill and dispose of it as quickly as they possibly could". | The first minister said at the time he believed opposition parties wanted to "grab control of the Referendum Bill and dispose of it as quickly as they possibly could". |
| Labour this week accused the Nationalists of trying to "rig" a referendum vote after it emerged ministers want to set up a special body to regulate it. | Labour this week accused the Nationalists of trying to "rig" a referendum vote after it emerged ministers want to set up a special body to regulate it. |
| The creation of a Scottish Referendum Commission to oversee a future poll has been discussed at a meeting of government officials and members of elections watchdog the Electoral Commission. | The creation of a Scottish Referendum Commission to oversee a future poll has been discussed at a meeting of government officials and members of elections watchdog the Electoral Commission. |
| But Education Secretary Mike Russell insisted setting up a new body to oversee such a poll was the "normal thing to do". | But Education Secretary Mike Russell insisted setting up a new body to oversee such a poll was the "normal thing to do". |