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Scottish independence: One month to go in Referendum campaign | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Both sides in the Scottish independence debate are to hold events with one month of the campaign left to go. | |
First Minister Alex Salmond will attend a Scottish cabinet meeting in Arbroath, which has historical significance for nationalists. | First Minister Alex Salmond will attend a Scottish cabinet meeting in Arbroath, which has historical significance for nationalists. |
And Better Together said it was launching its "final push" ahead of the vote on 18 September. | And Better Together said it was launching its "final push" ahead of the vote on 18 September. |
Voters will be asked the Yes/No question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" | Voters will be asked the Yes/No question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" |
Mr Salmond will visit Arbroath Abbey, the birthplace of the Declaration of Arbroath, which affirmed Scottish sovereignty in 1320 following the wars of independence. | Mr Salmond will visit Arbroath Abbey, the birthplace of the Declaration of Arbroath, which affirmed Scottish sovereignty in 1320 following the wars of independence. |
'Declaration of Opportunity' | 'Declaration of Opportunity' |
The declaration contains the famous lines: "As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. | The declaration contains the famous lines: "As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. |
"It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself." | "It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself." |
Mr Salmond has said he will make a new Declaration of Arbroath - pledging to protect the NHS from privatisation and create a fairer society. | Mr Salmond has said he will make a new Declaration of Arbroath - pledging to protect the NHS from privatisation and create a fairer society. |
This "Declaration of Opportunity" would be "based on the vast potential of the talented people of this country that independence can release", he will say. | This "Declaration of Opportunity" would be "based on the vast potential of the talented people of this country that independence can release", he will say. |
Mr Salmond will set out what he said were the three key opportunities that independence would provide: | Mr Salmond will set out what he said were the three key opportunities that independence would provide: |
It is because of these "great opportunities" that people will be better off with "Scotland's future in Scotland's hands," Mr Salmond will argue. | It is because of these "great opportunities" that people will be better off with "Scotland's future in Scotland's hands," Mr Salmond will argue. |
Meanwhile, Douglas Alexander, the Labour MP and shadow foreign secretary, claimed a majority of Scots continued to back the Union as the two-year campaign entered its final stages. | Meanwhile, Douglas Alexander, the Labour MP and shadow foreign secretary, claimed a majority of Scots continued to back the Union as the two-year campaign entered its final stages. |
'Majority of support' | 'Majority of support' |
Mr Alexander said: "This has already been the longest campaign in British political history. The remarkable thing over the last two years of campaigning has been how little public opinion has changed. | Mr Alexander said: "This has already been the longest campaign in British political history. The remarkable thing over the last two years of campaigning has been how little public opinion has changed. |
"We started the campaign speaking for the majority of Scots and now, as we enter the final month, we still speak for that majority. | "We started the campaign speaking for the majority of Scots and now, as we enter the final month, we still speak for that majority. |
"Not a single independently commissioned poll has ever shown Yes in the lead. | "Not a single independently commissioned poll has ever shown Yes in the lead. |
"The challenge for our campaign is to turn the majority of support into the majority vote on September 18. My message to everyone that supports our campaign is this: 'If you want it, you have to vote for it.'" | "The challenge for our campaign is to turn the majority of support into the majority vote on September 18. My message to everyone that supports our campaign is this: 'If you want it, you have to vote for it.'" |
More than 4.1 million people had registered to vote in the referendum by 10 March 2014, according to the Electoral Commission's most recent figures. | More than 4.1 million people had registered to vote in the referendum by 10 March 2014, according to the Electoral Commission's most recent figures. |
Those eligible to vote include British, Irish, EU and Commonwealth citizens who are resident in Scotland. | Those eligible to vote include British, Irish, EU and Commonwealth citizens who are resident in Scotland. |
For the first time for a national vote in the UK, the minimum voting age has been lowered to 16. | For the first time for a national vote in the UK, the minimum voting age has been lowered to 16. |