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Scottish independence: One month to go in Referendum campaign Scottish independence: One month to go in referendum campaign
(about 7 hours later)
Both sides in the Scottish independence debate are to hold events with one month of the campaign left to go. Both sides in the Scottish independence debate have held 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 visited Arbroath, which has historical significance for nationalists.
And Better Together said it was launching its "final push" ahead of the vote on 18 September. Better Together launched 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. Ahead of a meeting in the town, Mr Salmond visited Arbroath Abbey, the birthplace of the Declaration of Arbroath, which affirmed Scottish sovereignty in 1320 following the wars of independence.
Daily questionDaily question
As the people of Scotland weigh up how to vote in the independence referendum, they are asking questions on a range of topics from the economy to welfare.As the people of Scotland weigh up how to vote in the independence referendum, they are asking questions on a range of topics from the economy to welfare.
In a series running up to polling day, BBC correspondents are looking at those major questions and by using statistics, analysis and expert views shining a light on some of the possible answers.In a series running up to polling day, BBC correspondents are looking at those major questions and by using statistics, analysis and expert views shining a light on some of the possible answers.
So far, they have looked at Trident, Scottish economic growth, broadcasting, population and health.So far, they have looked at Trident, Scottish economic growth, broadcasting, population and health.
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 made what he described as 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 said.
Mr Salmond will set out what he said were the three key opportunities that independence would provide: Mr Salmond said the referendum gave voters in Scotland a "precious" opportunity to "take power out of the hands of the Westminster elite and into the hands of the people of Scotland".
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. Mr Salmond set out what he said were the three key opportunities that independence would provide:
Speaking to BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme ahead of the event, Mr Salmond said a recent spate of polls showed the "Yes" campaign has a "spring in their step". It is because of these "great opportunities" that people will be better off with "Scotland's future in Scotland's hands," Mr Salmond argued.
He said: "We've now had three opinion polls over this weekend showing significant gains for the Yes campaign. Speaking to BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme ahead of the event, Mr Salmond said keeping the pound without the backing of the Bank of England was a viable "transitional option" for an independent Scotland.
"One of the things that the polls today indicate is it is moving in our direction. Firstly, the vast majority of people in Scotland want to keep the pound and a majority of people don't believe the Westminster attempt to say they'll seize all the UK financial assets." He said: "The Fiscal Commission said there were a number of viable alternatives, including as a transitional point exactly that (sterlingisation).
"But the best option for Scotland is keeping the pound in a currency union.
"As a transitional option, the Fiscal Commission said it was viable, but there are a number of other viable options.
"But the key point we're making is arguing for the sterling union, which we think is the best option for Scotland."
'Majority of support''Majority of support'
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, launched the latest stage of the Better Together campaign in Glasgow, joining a group of activists bearing "No Thanks" banners and balloons.
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. Some activists joined in an impromptu rendition of Flower Of Scotland sung by a nearby busker while Mr Alexander called for clarity on Scotland's currency.
Mr Alexander said: "What the people want isn't so much a new Declaration of Arbroath but the declaration of some answers on the currency, on Europe, on how they will meet the additional costs and consequences of independence.
"We need some basic, straightforward answers from the first minister. This morning he talked about transitional arrangements on the currency. Transition to what?
"The postal ballots drop in just a week's time and still we don't have the most basic answer on what will Scotland's currency be?"
He added: "We don't know the terms and timescale that it will take for Scotland to re-enter the EU and we don't know how the nationalists will close the additional £6bn funding gap that their policy of independence will create."
Mr Alexander had earlier claimed a majority of Scots continued to back the Union as the two-year campaign entered its final stages.
He 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.'"
Elsewhere, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander was due to make the case for the UK at the Glenshee Ski Centre in Aberdeenshire before embarking on a tour across Scotland, taking in Dundee, the Isle of Lewis, Caithness and Glasgow
Cold allianceCold alliance
Nothing unites different nations quite like mutual enemies. But the "Auld Alliance" between Scotland and France - both historic rivals of England - doesn't mean that the French government favours Scottish independence. Far from it, writes the BBC's Hugh Schofield.Nothing unites different nations quite like mutual enemies. But the "Auld Alliance" between Scotland and France - both historic rivals of England - doesn't mean that the French government favours Scottish independence. Far from it, writes the BBC's Hugh Schofield.
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.