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| SNP 'closest ever' to achieving independence objective | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond said the Scottish National Party was the closest it had ever been to achieving its objective of an independent Scotland. | |
| He was speaking to the BBC ahead of his party's annual conference in Perth. | |
| The SNP gathering takes place days after Mr Salmond signed a deal with Prime Minister David Cameron agreeing the referendum ground rules. | |
| The first minister said his government would win the once-in-a-generation vote on Scottish independence. | |
| The Holyrood administration will hold a referendum in autumn 2014. | |
| Mr Salmond told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The Edinburgh Agreement makes it clear that both governments have decided to agree a process - and that means to respect the result. | |
| "That is a huge gain for the independence cause. It means we are closer to our objective then we have ever been before and, of course, I believe that we will win the vote on independence in two years' time. | |
| "But the results and the verdict is a matter, of course, for the Scottish people." | |
| He added that he had not changed his mind that the vote was a once-in-a-generation opportunity. | |
| On Monday, Mr Salmond and Mr Cameron signed a deal to deliver an independence referendum in 2014. | |
| It consists of a single Yes/No question on Scotland leaving the UK and will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to take part in the ballot. | |
| The SNP secured a mandate to hold the referendum after its landslide Scottish election win last year. | |
| Ballot box | |
| Speaking ahead of the four-day gathering, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said independence was "there to be won". | Speaking ahead of the four-day gathering, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said independence was "there to be won". |
| The party will also vote on whether it should change its policy on Nato. | The party will also vote on whether it should change its policy on Nato. |
| After signing the referendum agreement on Monday, Mr Cameron said he hoped Scotland would vote to "keep this United Kingdom together". | After signing the referendum agreement on Monday, Mr Cameron said he hoped Scotland would vote to "keep this United Kingdom together". |
| But Ms Sturgeon said she believed Scots would opt instead for independence when given the opportunity at the ballot box. | But Ms Sturgeon said she believed Scots would opt instead for independence when given the opportunity at the ballot box. |
| She said: "This week's agreement between the Scottish and UK governments ensures that we will have a referendum made in Scotland, with the outcome respected by all sides - the task now is to go out and win the argument among the people. | She said: "This week's agreement between the Scottish and UK governments ensures that we will have a referendum made in Scotland, with the outcome respected by all sides - the task now is to go out and win the argument among the people. |
| "And if we win the argument, we will win the referendum." | "And if we win the argument, we will win the referendum." |
| The deputy first minister cited a YouGov poll, commissioned by the SNP, which suggested almost two thirds of Scots thought the party was "better at making decisions for Scotland", compared with 24% who thought the UK government was better. | |
| The same poll also suggested 45% would be likely to vote for independence in the referendum if they could be persuaded that leaving the UK would mean their family would be economically better off. | The same poll also suggested 45% would be likely to vote for independence in the referendum if they could be persuaded that leaving the UK would mean their family would be economically better off. |
| Ms Sturgeon, who is also the party's deputy leader, added: "A Yes vote is there to be won, and I believe will be won in two years' time. | Ms Sturgeon, who is also the party's deputy leader, added: "A Yes vote is there to be won, and I believe will be won in two years' time. |
| "We know that a clear majority of people in Scotland believe that the Scottish government is better at making decisions for Scotland than Westminster, which is an essential foundation of the case for independence, and is also testament to the success of the degree of independence offered to us by devolution. | "We know that a clear majority of people in Scotland believe that the Scottish government is better at making decisions for Scotland than Westminster, which is an essential foundation of the case for independence, and is also testament to the success of the degree of independence offered to us by devolution. |
| "And most people are likely to vote Yes for an independent Scotland if they believe that they and their family will be better off. | "And most people are likely to vote Yes for an independent Scotland if they believe that they and their family will be better off. |
| "The economic case is on our side - Scotland pays 9.6% of UK taxes for 9.3% of UK spending in return, and in 2010/11 Scotland's finances were stronger than the UK's to the tune of £2.7bn, or over £1,000 for every household in Scotland." | "The economic case is on our side - Scotland pays 9.6% of UK taxes for 9.3% of UK spending in return, and in 2010/11 Scotland's finances were stronger than the UK's to the tune of £2.7bn, or over £1,000 for every household in Scotland." |
| Nuclear submarines | Nuclear submarines |
| The conference, which will open with a welcoming address by Mr Salmond at 14:00, will focus on the opportunities the SNP believes independence will bring Scotland, with Nationalists seeking to contrast these with the consequences of remaining part of the UK. | |
| Mr Salmond will deliver his main address to the conference on Saturday afternoon. | Mr Salmond will deliver his main address to the conference on Saturday afternoon. |
| Perhaps the most controversial issue faced by delegates will come on Friday, when they will be asked to back proposals tabled by the SNP's defence spokesman, Angus Robertson MP, to reverse the party's 30-year opposition to Scottish membership of Nato after independence. | Perhaps the most controversial issue faced by delegates will come on Friday, when they will be asked to back proposals tabled by the SNP's defence spokesman, Angus Robertson MP, to reverse the party's 30-year opposition to Scottish membership of Nato after independence. |
| Mr Robertson, who has been backed by the party leadership, argues that an independent Scotland could be opposed to nuclear weapons but remain in the military alliance. | Mr Robertson, who has been backed by the party leadership, argues that an independent Scotland could be opposed to nuclear weapons but remain in the military alliance. |
| But some activists believe Nato membership would make it difficult for an independent Scotland to remove Trident nuclear submarines from the Clyde, as the SNP has pledged to do. | But some activists believe Nato membership would make it difficult for an independent Scotland to remove Trident nuclear submarines from the Clyde, as the SNP has pledged to do. |