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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Scottish independence: One month to go in referendum campaign | Scottish independence: One month to go in referendum campaign |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Both sides in the Scottish independence debate have held 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 visited Arbroath, which has historical significance for nationalists. | First Minister Alex Salmond visited Arbroath, which has historical significance for nationalists. |
| Better Together launched 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?" |
| 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. | 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 question | Daily 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 made what he described as 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 said. | 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 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". | 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". |
| Mr Salmond set out what he said were the three key opportunities that independence would provide: | Mr Salmond 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 argued. | It is because of these "great opportunities" that people will be better off with "Scotland's future in Scotland's hands," Mr Salmond argued. |
| 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. | 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. |
| He said: "The Fiscal Commission said there were a number of viable alternatives, including as a transitional point exactly that (sterlingisation). | 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. | "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. | "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." | "But the key point we're making is arguing for the sterling union, which we think is the best option for Scotland." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Majority of support' | |
| 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. | 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. | 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? | "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?" | "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." | 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." |
| Cold 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. | |
| Independence-ce-ce | |
| Cornwall is about as far away from Scotland as it is possible to get by land in the UK and has a vibrant nationalist identity. But does it share more with Scotland than England? And does it have a greater interest in the Scottish referendum? Vanessa Barford writes that the famous challenge - often signposted with a distance of 874 miles (1,407km) by road - is not the only thing that Scotland and Cornwall have in common. | |
| Mr Alexander had earlier claimed a majority of Scots continued to back the Union as the two-year campaign entered its final stages. | 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. | 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 making 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. | |