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| Scottish independence: Alex Salmond outlines referendum question | Scottish independence: Alex Salmond outlines referendum question |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has set out the question he intends to ask voters in a referendum on Scottish independence. | Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has set out the question he intends to ask voters in a referendum on Scottish independence. |
| The SNP leader said Scots will be asked: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" in a ballot which he wants to hold in 2014. | The SNP leader said Scots will be asked: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" in a ballot which he wants to hold in 2014. |
| But a consultation launched by Mr Salmond asks if voters favour a second question on more Holyrood powers. | But a consultation launched by Mr Salmond asks if voters favour a second question on more Holyrood powers. |
| The referendum will be regulated by the Electoral Commission. | The referendum will be regulated by the Electoral Commission. |
| In a statement to MSPs, Mr Salmond described the question as "short, straightforward and clear". | In a statement to MSPs, Mr Salmond described the question as "short, straightforward and clear". |
| He said the decision would be the most important made by the people of Scotland in 300 years. | He said the decision would be the most important made by the people of Scotland in 300 years. |
| For that reason, he said, it was important that the vote - which is expected to cost about £10m - should meet "the highest standards of fairness, transparency and propriety". | For that reason, he said, it was important that the vote - which is expected to cost about £10m - should meet "the highest standards of fairness, transparency and propriety". |
| Mr Salmond told the Scottish parliament: "The referendum will be held in autumn 2014 on the same terms as any Scottish election, to the same standards and with the same guarantee of fairness. We will decide our future in a vote which is beyond challenge or doubt. | Mr Salmond told the Scottish parliament: "The referendum will be held in autumn 2014 on the same terms as any Scottish election, to the same standards and with the same guarantee of fairness. We will decide our future in a vote which is beyond challenge or doubt. |
| "Our nation is blessed with national resources, bright people and a strong society. We have an independent education system, legal system and NHS. They are respected worldwide. I believe that if we connect the wealth of our land to the wellbeing of our people, we can create a better country." | "Our nation is blessed with national resources, bright people and a strong society. We have an independent education system, legal system and NHS. They are respected worldwide. I believe that if we connect the wealth of our land to the wellbeing of our people, we can create a better country." |
| The first minister said Scotland was currently limited in what it could do to create jobs, grow the economy and help the vulnerable. | The first minister said Scotland was currently limited in what it could do to create jobs, grow the economy and help the vulnerable. |
| "To achieve this we shouldn't have a constitution that restrains us, but one which frees us to build a better society," he said. | "To achieve this we shouldn't have a constitution that restrains us, but one which frees us to build a better society," he said. |
| "It is our future and our choice." | "It is our future and our choice." |
| The public consultation paper - Your Scotland Your Referendum - seeks views on what the ballot paper should say, what spending limits should be set and how the referendum should be managed and regulated. | The public consultation paper - Your Scotland Your Referendum - seeks views on what the ballot paper should say, what spending limits should be set and how the referendum should be managed and regulated. |
| Mr Salmond said eligibility to vote in the referendum would be determined by residency, telling MSPs: "The people who live and work in Scotland are best placed to decide its future." | Mr Salmond said eligibility to vote in the referendum would be determined by residency, telling MSPs: "The people who live and work in Scotland are best placed to decide its future." |
| However, the first minister said the Scottish government proposed extending the franchise to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote. | However, the first minister said the Scottish government proposed extending the franchise to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote. |
| "If a 16-year-old in Scotland can register to join the Army, get married and pay taxes, surely he or she should be able to have a say in this country's constitutional future?," he said. | "If a 16-year-old in Scotland can register to join the Army, get married and pay taxes, surely he or she should be able to have a say in this country's constitutional future?," he said. |
| "Scotland's journey, our home rule journey, is clearly part of a bigger international trend. After all, independence is what we seek as individuals - whether it is buying our first car or our first home." | "Scotland's journey, our home rule journey, is clearly part of a bigger international trend. After all, independence is what we seek as individuals - whether it is buying our first car or our first home." |
| Mr Salmond concluded: "With independence we will have a new social union with the other nations of these islands. We will continue to share Her Majesty the Queen as head of state. | Mr Salmond concluded: "With independence we will have a new social union with the other nations of these islands. We will continue to share Her Majesty the Queen as head of state. |
| "But we won't have our young servicemen and women dragged into illegal wars like Iraq, and we won't have nuclear weapons based on Scottish soil. Independence will create a new, more modern relationship between the nations of these islands - a partnership of equals." | "But we won't have our young servicemen and women dragged into illegal wars like Iraq, and we won't have nuclear weapons based on Scottish soil. Independence will create a new, more modern relationship between the nations of these islands - a partnership of equals." |
| The SNP leader was addressing parliament on the 253rd anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns. | The SNP leader was addressing parliament on the 253rd anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns. |
| Both Mr Salmond and Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, later held a press conference at Edinburgh Castle's Great Hall, which he said was one of the few places able to accommodate the large numbers of Scottish and international media. | Both Mr Salmond and Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, later held a press conference at Edinburgh Castle's Great Hall, which he said was one of the few places able to accommodate the large numbers of Scottish and international media. |
| Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie described the statement as more Shakespeare than Burns, saying it was "much ado about nothing". | Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie described the statement as more Shakespeare than Burns, saying it was "much ado about nothing". |
| "Whilst independence dominates the work of his government, our country is gripped by unemployment and rising costs," he said. | "Whilst independence dominates the work of his government, our country is gripped by unemployment and rising costs," he said. |
| "I, as a Liberal Democrat, want home rule within the UK family, sharing the risks and rewards in a turbulent world. | "I, as a Liberal Democrat, want home rule within the UK family, sharing the risks and rewards in a turbulent world. |
| "But the first minister must be clear. Can he guarantee that if 'Devo Max' got 99% of the vote, his government would honour the democratic wishes of the Scottish people? This issue has not been addressed in his consultation document." | "But the first minister must be clear. Can he guarantee that if 'Devo Max' got 99% of the vote, his government would honour the democratic wishes of the Scottish people? This issue has not been addressed in his consultation document." |
| Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour leader, said: "The most important thing is that whichever side wins this referendum, it, and the process to it, is conducted in such a way that the day after it all Scots can come together to fulfil our national duty to make Scotland all it can be. | Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour leader, said: "The most important thing is that whichever side wins this referendum, it, and the process to it, is conducted in such a way that the day after it all Scots can come together to fulfil our national duty to make Scotland all it can be. |
| "Sadly, the first minister declined those talks, and this consultation paper has done little for those who fear this process is not a fair one. | "Sadly, the first minister declined those talks, and this consultation paper has done little for those who fear this process is not a fair one. |
| "For all the poetry and the pomp, this, his fourth crack at a consultation paper, is one of political calculations and assertions." | "For all the poetry and the pomp, this, his fourth crack at a consultation paper, is one of political calculations and assertions." |
| 'Wriggle room' | 'Wriggle room' |
| Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson said she was glad that Mr Salmond had set out his preference for a single question on independence. | Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson said she was glad that Mr Salmond had set out his preference for a single question on independence. |
| But she added: "I notice that the first minister has left wriggle room for a second question in there. We believe that the question should be fair and decisive." | But she added: "I notice that the first minister has left wriggle room for a second question in there. We believe that the question should be fair and decisive." |
| And the Scottish Green Party called for the coming months of civic debate to act as testbed for a more inclusive way of doing politics in Scotland. | And the Scottish Green Party called for the coming months of civic debate to act as testbed for a more inclusive way of doing politics in Scotland. |
| Its leader Patrick Harvie said: "I welcome the move to accept the oversight of the Electoral Commission by the Scottish government. | Its leader Patrick Harvie said: "I welcome the move to accept the oversight of the Electoral Commission by the Scottish government. |
| "Now it's time for Westminster to give ground and allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote." | "Now it's time for Westminster to give ground and allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote." |
| Westminster ministers have already launched their own consultation on plans for the referendum, but have clashed with the Scottish government over who has the legal power to hold it. | Westminster ministers have already launched their own consultation on plans for the referendum, but have clashed with the Scottish government over who has the legal power to hold it. |
| Mr Salmond said he looked forward to discussing this issue with Scottish Secretary Michael Moore and Prime Minister David Cameron "in the coming days". | Mr Salmond said he looked forward to discussing this issue with Scottish Secretary Michael Moore and Prime Minister David Cameron "in the coming days". |
| A Referendum Bill, introduced to parliament early next year, could be passed towards the end of 2013, with the vote itself being held after the European elections in June 2014, and the Commonwealth Games, which are being staged in Glasgow. | A Referendum Bill, introduced to parliament early next year, could be passed towards the end of 2013, with the vote itself being held after the European elections in June 2014, and the Commonwealth Games, which are being staged in Glasgow. |
| The Electoral Commissioner for Scotland, John McCormick, said: "We welcome the opportunity to give full and careful consideration to the Scottish government's proposals at this stage. | The Electoral Commissioner for Scotland, John McCormick, said: "We welcome the opportunity to give full and careful consideration to the Scottish government's proposals at this stage. |
| "Our priority is to ensure any referendum is well run, transparent and focused on voters and we will share our experience and expertise in running referendums when we respond to both parliaments and governments on their respective consultations." | "Our priority is to ensure any referendum is well run, transparent and focused on voters and we will share our experience and expertise in running referendums when we respond to both parliaments and governments on their respective consultations." |
| The consultation will close on 11 May. | The consultation will close on 11 May. |