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SNP conference: Alex Salmond says independence 'an act of self-belief' SNP conference: Alex Salmond names date for independence Yes case paper
(35 minutes later)
A vote for Scottish independence would be an "act of national self-belief", Alex Salmond has told his party. The Scottish government will publish its detailed case for independence on 26 November, Alex Salmond has said.
The first minister told the SNP conference devolution had made Scotland better, but the country now needed powers to make all its own decisions. The long-waited white paper will come ahead of the referendum itself, on 18 September next year.
His speech in Perth comes ahead of the independence referendum, on 18 September next year. Mr Salmond told the SNP conference that a vote for independence would be "an act of national self belief".
A "yes" vote is not about victory for the SNP, but for the whole of Scotland, Mr Salmond will say. Scotland's first minister said devolution had provided a "taste of independence", but the country was now ready to make its own decisions.
On Thursday, 18 September, 2014, voters in the referendum will be asked the straight yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" Mr Salmond also told delegates in Perth that, under independence the national minimum wage would rise at least with the level of inflation, to help people keep pace with the cost of living.
Mr Salmond used his address to reveal the date of the Scottish government's White Paper on independence as 26 November. And he urged bosses at the Grangemouth petrochemical refinery, which has been temporarily shut down due to a dispute with workers to "fire up the plant".
The party leader told delegates that the devolved Scottish Parliament had provided "a taste of independence", in areas like health and social care, but he argued it was now time to extend its powers to areas like welfare and defence. At the same time he urged union officials to drop their threat of strike action.
He said: "A 'yes' vote is not a victory for the SNP or even a victory for the Yes campaign - or even the huge coalition of interests and enthusiasm that supports a "yes" vote. The SNP leader said the white paper would have two functions, the first being to set out what would happen between achieving a "yes" vote in the referendum and the first elections to an independent Scottish Parliament, in the spring of 2016.
"It will be, above all, an act of national self-confidence and self-belief." He went on: "It will therefore be clear that independence is not, at its heart, about this party or this administration or this first minister but about the fundamental democratic choice for Scotland - the people's right to choose a government of their own.
'Common sense' "Secondly, the white paper will set out our vision for Scotland - the why of independence - the Scotland that we seek.
The first minister said: "The case for independence is about what is best for the people of Scotland, wherever they come from. "We seek a country with a written constitution protecting not just the liberties for the people but enunciating the rights of the citizen."
"It is about who should be taking decisions about Scotland - those who live here or politicians at Westminster. Mr Salmond told the conference: "We will not wake up on the morning of 19 September next year and think to ourselves what might have been.
"This central question of who should be taking decisions is not an academic argument. "We will wake up on that morning filled with hope and expectation - ready to build a new nation both prosperous and just.
"It is a common sense argument based on our experience." "After almost a quarter of a century moving forward to this very moment - let us ask ourselves these simple questions: If not us, then who? If not now, when?
Mr Salmond said of Scottish devolution: "Conference, with even just a taste of independence we have been able to deliver fairer policies than elsewhere on these islands. "Friends - we are Scotland's independence generation - and our time is now."
"With a measure of independence on health, on education and on law and order we have made Scotland a better place.
"So let us consider what we can achieve by extending Scotland's powers over the things we don't currently control - over our welfare system, our economy, pensions and defence.
"That is what a 'yes' vote means."
Next month the Scottish government will set out its prospectus for independence in the white paper.