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| Scottish independence: Electoral Commission finding due | Scottish independence: Electoral Commission finding due |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| By Andrew Black Political reporter, BBC Scotland | By Andrew Black Political reporter, BBC Scotland |
| The election watchdog is delivering its finding on the Scottish government's independence referendum question. | The election watchdog is delivering its finding on the Scottish government's independence referendum question. |
| The Electoral Commission has spent the last few months assessing the SNP government's preferred wording on the ballot paper in autumn 2014. | The Electoral Commission has spent the last few months assessing the SNP government's preferred wording on the ballot paper in autumn 2014. |
| It wants to ask voters the yes/no question: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" | It wants to ask voters the yes/no question: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" |
| Final approval of the referendum arrangements rests with the Scottish Parliament. | Final approval of the referendum arrangements rests with the Scottish Parliament. |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond previously described his government's question as "short, straightforward and clear", but critics say the wording is biased. | Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond previously described his government's question as "short, straightforward and clear", but critics say the wording is biased. |
| There has been speculation the Electoral Commission may reword the ballot paper, inviting voters to record "I agree" or "I disagree" to a general statement about independence. | There has been speculation the Electoral Commission may reword the ballot paper, inviting voters to record "I agree" or "I disagree" to a general statement about independence. |
| The Scottish government's suggested question is: Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country? | The Scottish government's suggested question is: Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country? |
| Some say that is too inclusive, too inviting. | Some say that is too inclusive, too inviting. |
| Experts commissioned by the opposition parties suggested there should instead be a preface statement on the ballot paper - "Scotland should become an independent state" - with the option to tick a box marked "I agree" or another marked "I do not agree." | Experts commissioned by the opposition parties suggested there should instead be a preface statement on the ballot paper - "Scotland should become an independent state" - with the option to tick a box marked "I agree" or another marked "I do not agree." |
| Seems likely that something along those lines - with the alternative agree/disagree options on the ballot paper - will find favour with the commission. | Seems likely that something along those lines - with the alternative agree/disagree options on the ballot paper - will find favour with the commission. |
| The commission's guidance says a referendum question must be easy to understand and should avoid misleading voters or encouraging them to vote a certain way. | The commission's guidance says a referendum question must be easy to understand and should avoid misleading voters or encouraging them to vote a certain way. |
| A panel of experts chaired by Lord Sutherland, along with the referendum and election experts Matt Qvortrup and Ron Gould, was set up by Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to devise an alternative question. | |
| It suggested the words, "Scotland should become an independent state", with voters being asked to "agree" or "disagree" - although the Electoral Commission will only consider a form of words put forward by the relevant government. | It suggested the words, "Scotland should become an independent state", with voters being asked to "agree" or "disagree" - although the Electoral Commission will only consider a form of words put forward by the relevant government. |
| The independent commission has spoken to voters across Scotland to see whether they can easily understand and answer the question and has also taken advice from "plain language" experts, politicians, academics and others. | The independent commission has spoken to voters across Scotland to see whether they can easily understand and answer the question and has also taken advice from "plain language" experts, politicians, academics and others. |
| The Scottish government has said it would be inappropriate to comment in advance on what the watchdog might say. | The Scottish government has said it would be inappropriate to comment in advance on what the watchdog might say. |
| But, on Tuesday, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said ministers would attach "considerable weight" to the Electoral Commission recommendations, saying there would have to be "a very good reason" to depart from what it says. | But, on Tuesday, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said ministers would attach "considerable weight" to the Electoral Commission recommendations, saying there would have to be "a very good reason" to depart from what it says. |
| The Electoral Commission, which is also publishing advice on campaign spending, could also support increased limits for the two main campaigns - Yes Scotland and Better Together - but specify limits for individual parties in line with their showing at the 2011 Holyrood elections. | The Electoral Commission, which is also publishing advice on campaign spending, could also support increased limits for the two main campaigns - Yes Scotland and Better Together - but specify limits for individual parties in line with their showing at the 2011 Holyrood elections. |
| In March last year, the body expressed an initial view that the proposed spending limit for the designated four-month campaign in the run-up to the referendum "may be low". | In March last year, the body expressed an initial view that the proposed spending limit for the designated four-month campaign in the run-up to the referendum "may be low". |
| The Scottish government has proposed a limit of £750,000 for designated lead campaigns, on the basis that the total was half the maximum spending limit of just over £1.5m for parties fighting Scottish Parliament elections, and that the referendum will not involve constituency campaigns. | The Scottish government has proposed a limit of £750,000 for designated lead campaigns, on the basis that the total was half the maximum spending limit of just over £1.5m for parties fighting Scottish Parliament elections, and that the referendum will not involve constituency campaigns. |
| The terms of the referendum will be contained in a Scottish government bill, which would need the approval of the Scottish Parliament. | The terms of the referendum will be contained in a Scottish government bill, which would need the approval of the Scottish Parliament. |