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Scots referendum plans published | |
(19 minutes later) | |
The Scottish government has published the details of its proposed referendum on independence. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | The draft bill unveiled by Mr Salmond will now go out to consultation until after the General Election. |
It proposes asking two questions on two separate ballot papers. | |
The people want our parliament to be able to do more, so the debate is now about how much more Alex SalmondFirst Minister | |
Firstly, voters would be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' on whether they support the Scottish Parliament being given new devolved powers. | |
The consultation paper offers two alternatives for this question, one based on the so-called "devolution max" option of giving Holyrood control of everything except defence, foreign affairs and financial regulation, and another based on the more limited powers put forward by the Calman Commission. | |
They will then be asked whether: "The parliament's powers should also be extended to enable independence to be achieved." | |
Speaking at the launch of the bill, Mr Salmond said he would be campaigning for people to vote 'yes' to both questions. | |
He added: "The Scottish government believes in the sovereignty of the people. And as set out in the manifesto on which we were elected, we are committed to giving people the opportunity to express their views in a referendum. | |
"More than 10 years on from the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, the debate in Scotland is no longer about whether or not the parliament should take on new responsibilities - it is about the form of change, and that issue underpins the consultation. | |
"The people want our parliament to be able to do more, so the debate is now about how much more. And it is time the people had their say." | |
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 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". |