This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/feb/26/scottish-independence-scotland
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Sun reveals Salmond's preferred referendum date as 18 October 2014 | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Alex Salmond's preferred date for the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 has emerged as Saturday 18 October in an exclusive story given to Rupert Murdoch's new Sunday tabloid. | Alex Salmond's preferred date for the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 has emerged as Saturday 18 October in an exclusive story given to Rupert Murdoch's new Sunday tabloid. |
| That date, which has been the focus of intense speculation since Salmond said the poll would be staged in the autumn of 2014, was the main front-page story in Scottish editions of the Sun on Sunday, which also had a two-page feature inside. | That date, which has been the focus of intense speculation since Salmond said the poll would be staged in the autumn of 2014, was the main front-page story in Scottish editions of the Sun on Sunday, which also had a two-page feature inside. |
| The paper quoted an unnamed Scottish government source and also carried a short article by the first minister praising the paper's arrival on newsstands as good for democracy and saying that 18 October 2014 was being "lined up" as the referendum date. | The paper quoted an unnamed Scottish government source and also carried a short article by the first minister praising the paper's arrival on newsstands as good for democracy and saying that 18 October 2014 was being "lined up" as the referendum date. |
| The official said it would be "the day when people will get the chance to vote for independence and equality for Scotland. The referendum will be an historic day for all Scots". Editions across the rest of the UK ran a shorter version of the story on page 2. | The official said it would be "the day when people will get the chance to vote for independence and equality for Scotland. The referendum will be an historic day for all Scots". Editions across the rest of the UK ran a shorter version of the story on page 2. |
| The disclosure provoked fresh criticism of Salmond's increasingly friendly links with Murdoch, who strongly hinted on Twitter recently that he favoured independence for Scotland and stated that the first minister was the UK's most effective politician. | The disclosure provoked fresh criticism of Salmond's increasingly friendly links with Murdoch, who strongly hinted on Twitter recently that he favoured independence for Scotland and stated that the first minister was the UK's most effective politician. |
| In two tweets within days of each other, Murdoch said Salmond was "clearly the most brilliant politician in the UK" and: "Let Scotland go and compete. Everyone would win." | In two tweets within days of each other, Murdoch said Salmond was "clearly the most brilliant politician in the UK" and: "Let Scotland go and compete. Everyone would win." |
| The day after the second tweet, Salmond and Murdoch had a private telephone conversation about the Sunday edition of the Sun, launched in part to replace the News of the World, and Murdoch's Twitter comments. | The day after the second tweet, Salmond and Murdoch had a private telephone conversation about the Sunday edition of the Sun, launched in part to replace the News of the World, and Murdoch's Twitter comments. |
| Michael Moore, the UK government's Scottish secretary, said many voters would be disappointed that Salmond's staff gave the date to a newspaper first, but added it was hardly a revelation given that Salmond had already named autumn 2014 as his preferred time. Moore said it showed that the first minister was "stalling for time without explaining why". | Michael Moore, the UK government's Scottish secretary, said many voters would be disappointed that Salmond's staff gave the date to a newspaper first, but added it was hardly a revelation given that Salmond had already named autumn 2014 as his preferred time. Moore said it showed that the first minister was "stalling for time without explaining why". |
| "Briefing out on the date looks like panic in the wake of a major company such as SSE's concerns about investment and CBI Scotland raising issues about the length of time Scotland would have to wait for a vote under their plans," he said. | "Briefing out on the date looks like panic in the wake of a major company such as SSE's concerns about investment and CBI Scotland raising issues about the length of time Scotland would have to wait for a vote under their plans," he said. |
| "The polls also show a significant majority of people want to vote earlier than 2014 and there is a clear alternative. [There] is no reason the referendum cannot happen earlier and the Scottish government must explain why they are making the people of Scotland wait so long." | "The polls also show a significant majority of people want to vote earlier than 2014 and there is a clear alternative. [There] is no reason the referendum cannot happen earlier and the Scottish government must explain why they are making the people of Scotland wait so long." |
| After splashing its "world exclusive" with the headline "Day of Destiny", the Scottish edition of the Sun, Scotland's largest selling daily paper, stopped short of endorsing independence. | After splashing its "world exclusive" with the headline "Day of Destiny", the Scottish edition of the Sun, Scotland's largest selling daily paper, stopped short of endorsing independence. |
| During last May's Scottish parliament elections, the Scottish Sun openly endorsed Salmond and the SNP after a long period of courtship of News International by the first minister, which included 25 meetings with its staff and executives, and offers of gifts to Murdoch, including Ryder Cup tickets and invitations to a Scottish cultural festival. | During last May's Scottish parliament elections, the Scottish Sun openly endorsed Salmond and the SNP after a long period of courtship of News International by the first minister, which included 25 meetings with its staff and executives, and offers of gifts to Murdoch, including Ryder Cup tickets and invitations to a Scottish cultural festival. |
| Despite apparent signals that the paper is leaning towards a yes vote in the referendum, its editorial said Salmond faced "an enormous two fold task to convince Scots to buy his vision". It added that "barely half" of Scotland's voters took part in last May's landslide election for Salmond. | Despite apparent signals that the paper is leaning towards a yes vote in the referendum, its editorial said Salmond faced "an enormous two fold task to convince Scots to buy his vision". It added that "barely half" of Scotland's voters took part in last May's landslide election for Salmond. |
| Describing that date as "the most defining moment in three centuries", it said many scare stories about the impact of independence, such as needing passports to visit England or being unable to watch Coronation Street, were unfounded. But it went on to argue that Salmond had to explain exactly why voters should support independence and why Scotland would be better off. In a clear indication that the Sun is hedging its bets about the referendum result, it said that was "the harder bit". | Describing that date as "the most defining moment in three centuries", it said many scare stories about the impact of independence, such as needing passports to visit England or being unable to watch Coronation Street, were unfounded. But it went on to argue that Salmond had to explain exactly why voters should support independence and why Scotland would be better off. In a clear indication that the Sun is hedging its bets about the referendum result, it said that was "the harder bit". |
| In his article, Salmond sought to downplay the damaging impact of the Leveson inquiry into hacking and newspaper ethics, which led to the closure of the News of the World and the arrest of more than 20 News International executives and employees, including 10 serving and former staff on the Sun. | In his article, Salmond sought to downplay the damaging impact of the Leveson inquiry into hacking and newspaper ethics, which led to the closure of the News of the World and the arrest of more than 20 News International executives and employees, including 10 serving and former staff on the Sun. |
| "The Leveson inquiry is, rightly, looking into some of the issues that have prompted these changes," he said. "But the questions the probe is looking at relate to the industry, not one newspaper or company." | "The Leveson inquiry is, rightly, looking into some of the issues that have prompted these changes," he said. "But the questions the probe is looking at relate to the industry, not one newspaper or company." |
| He continued: "Scotland's newest Sunday paper will be a fresh and vibrant edition in a nation that has an insatiable appetite for news. [The] Scottish Sun will play an important part in the great debate on our future." | He continued: "Scotland's newest Sunday paper will be a fresh and vibrant edition in a nation that has an insatiable appetite for news. [The] Scottish Sun will play an important part in the great debate on our future." |
| The Scottish government then attempted to downplay the disclosure of the referendum date, with an official spokesman claiming it was one of several being considered as part of an ongoing consultation on the referendum. "This date is of course a possibility, but we are in the process of a consultation on the independence referendum – which has already generated more than 2,500 responses," he said. "Once we have completed that process and listened to people's views we will take forward our plans for a referendum in autumn 2014." | The Scottish government then attempted to downplay the disclosure of the referendum date, with an official spokesman claiming it was one of several being considered as part of an ongoing consultation on the referendum. "This date is of course a possibility, but we are in the process of a consultation on the independence referendum – which has already generated more than 2,500 responses," he said. "Once we have completed that process and listened to people's views we will take forward our plans for a referendum in autumn 2014." |
| The Scottish Labour Leader, Johann Lamont MSP, said nothing was preventing the SNP from holding the referendum now. | The Scottish Labour Leader, Johann Lamont MSP, said nothing was preventing the SNP from holding the referendum now. |
| "We can't afford to wait years to make this decision," she said. "Donald Dewar held a referendum within 134 days of coming to power, but it is going to take Alex Salmond seven and a half years. | "We can't afford to wait years to make this decision," she said. "Donald Dewar held a referendum within 134 days of coming to power, but it is going to take Alex Salmond seven and a half years. |
| "Alex Salmond is supposed to be consulting with the Scottish people about his preferred date, but seems more interested in consulting with Rupert Murdoch." | "Alex Salmond is supposed to be consulting with the Scottish people about his preferred date, but seems more interested in consulting with Rupert Murdoch." |