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Scottish independence: Timetable on new Scots powers to be outlined 'in days' | Scottish independence: Timetable on new Scots powers to be outlined 'in days' |
(less than a minute earlier) | |
UK Chancellor George Osborne has promised a timetable for further devolution if voters in Scotland reject independence at the ballot box. | UK Chancellor George Osborne has promised a timetable for further devolution if voters in Scotland reject independence at the ballot box. |
The pledge came on the day a YouGov poll suggested the Yes Scotland campaign for independence had taken a narrow lead. | The pledge came on the day a YouGov poll suggested the Yes Scotland campaign for independence had taken a narrow lead. |
Mr Osborne told the BBC a "plan of action" on more powers would be detailed in the coming days. | Mr Osborne told the BBC a "plan of action" on more powers would be detailed in the coming days. |
Alex Salmond said new proposals at this stage would lack credibility. | Alex Salmond said new proposals at this stage would lack credibility. |
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Conservative Mr Osborne said: "You will see in the next few days a plan of action to give more powers to Scotland; more tax powers, more spending powers, more powers over the welfare state. | Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Conservative Mr Osborne said: "You will see in the next few days a plan of action to give more powers to Scotland; more tax powers, more spending powers, more powers over the welfare state. |
"That will be put into effect the moment there is a 'No' vote in the referendum." | "That will be put into effect the moment there is a 'No' vote in the referendum." |
He said this would give Scotland the "best of both worlds" by avoiding what he called "the risks of separation" but having "more control over their own destiny". | He said this would give Scotland the "best of both worlds" by avoiding what he called "the risks of separation" but having "more control over their own destiny". |
Voters in Scotland go to the polls on Thursday, 18 September, when they will be asked the "Yes/No" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" | Voters in Scotland go to the polls on Thursday, 18 September, when they will be asked the "Yes/No" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" |
Speaking on Sunday evening, Labour leader Ed Miliband said the process of further devolution should get under way "right after the referendum", in the event that independence is rejected. | Speaking on Sunday evening, Labour leader Ed Miliband said the process of further devolution should get under way "right after the referendum", in the event that independence is rejected. |
But speaking to BBC Scotland's Sunday Politics, Scotland's first minister said: "Are we expected to believe, after hundreds of thousands have already voted, that there's a radical new deal? | But speaking to BBC Scotland's Sunday Politics, Scotland's first minister said: "Are we expected to believe, after hundreds of thousands have already voted, that there's a radical new deal? |
"This is a panicky measure made because the 'Yes' side is winning on the ground. They're trying to bribe us, but it won't work as they have no credibility left." | "This is a panicky measure made because the 'Yes' side is winning on the ground. They're trying to bribe us, but it won't work as they have no credibility left." |
What are the No parties offering? | What are the No parties offering? |
'Not new powers' | 'Not new powers' |
BBC political correspondent Tim Reid said Whitehall sources suggested the pro-Union proposal would be centred on the areas of overlap between the competing offers which the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats have already made. | BBC political correspondent Tim Reid said Whitehall sources suggested the pro-Union proposal would be centred on the areas of overlap between the competing offers which the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats have already made. |
These powers include areas such as some taxes, the work programme and some benefits. | These powers include areas such as some taxes, the work programme and some benefits. |
The source said: "We are signalling that we are going to work together on a wide-ranging act based on consensus between the parties. The Chancellor didn't say that a detailed agreement had been reached." | The source said: "We are signalling that we are going to work together on a wide-ranging act based on consensus between the parties. The Chancellor didn't say that a detailed agreement had been reached." |
Leader of the pro-Union Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, later clarified what the chancellor had meant. | Leader of the pro-Union Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, later clarified what the chancellor had meant. |
"It's not new powers - the powers have already been announced," he told Sky News. | "It's not new powers - the powers have already been announced," he told Sky News. |
"What it is, is about the process and timetable so that people can see quite clearly how quickly these powers can be introduced." | "What it is, is about the process and timetable so that people can see quite clearly how quickly these powers can be introduced." |
What are the issues of the referendum? | What are the issues of the referendum? |
As the people of Scotland weigh up how to vote in the independence referendum, they are asking questions on a range of topics. | As the people of Scotland weigh up how to vote in the independence referendum, they are asking questions on a range of topics. |
But what issues are important? Explore our special Scotland Decides website, where you find more on the economy; energy; pensions; citizenship; relations with the rest of the UK; EU membership; defence and broadcasting. | But what issues are important? Explore our special Scotland Decides website, where you find more on the economy; energy; pensions; citizenship; relations with the rest of the UK; EU membership; defence and broadcasting. |
The UK government said the timetable for new powers for Scotland would not break referendum purdah period rules. | The UK government said the timetable for new powers for Scotland would not break referendum purdah period rules. |
The Holyrood and Westminster administrations are prohibited from publishing anything which argues "for or against a particular outcome" during the pre-election purdah period when ministers must desist from making major announcements. | The Holyrood and Westminster administrations are prohibited from publishing anything which argues "for or against a particular outcome" during the pre-election purdah period when ministers must desist from making major announcements. |
A spokesman for the UK government told the BBC that the offer would come from the pro-Union parties, not the government itself. | A spokesman for the UK government told the BBC that the offer would come from the pro-Union parties, not the government itself. |
Progress in doubt | Progress in doubt |
As both sides of the campaign begin a final push for votes, a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times suggested that, of those who have made up their mind, 51% planned to back independence, while 49% intended to vote no. | As both sides of the campaign begin a final push for votes, a YouGov poll for the Sunday Times suggested that, of those who have made up their mind, 51% planned to back independence, while 49% intended to vote no. |
The poll of 1,084 people, carried out between 2 and 5 September, is the first and only serious study to put the Yes campaign ahead. | The poll of 1,084 people, carried out between 2 and 5 September, is the first and only serious study to put the Yes campaign ahead. |
The cross-party Better Together campaign had previously retained a lead in polls, often reaching double digits. | The cross-party Better Together campaign had previously retained a lead in polls, often reaching double digits. |
However, a separate poll for the Yes Scotland campaign put the pro-Union camp four points ahead - by 52% to 48% - when undecided voters were excluded. | However, a separate poll for the Yes Scotland campaign put the pro-Union camp four points ahead - by 52% to 48% - when undecided voters were excluded. |
Pollsters Panelbase questioned voters between 2 and 6 September. | Pollsters Panelbase questioned voters between 2 and 6 September. |
John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said that "until another pollster confirms that there has indeed been a substantial swing to Yes there will inevitably be some doubt about just how much the progress the Yes side has made". | John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, said that "until another pollster confirms that there has indeed been a substantial swing to Yes there will inevitably be some doubt about just how much the progress the Yes side has made". |
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's deputy first minster, welcomed the tightening of the polls and rejected the talk of more devolved powers for Scotland. | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's deputy first minster, welcomed the tightening of the polls and rejected the talk of more devolved powers for Scotland. |
"I don't think people are going to take this seriously," she said. | "I don't think people are going to take this seriously," she said. |
"If the other parties had been serious about more powers, then something concrete would have been put forward before now." | "If the other parties had been serious about more powers, then something concrete would have been put forward before now." |
Elsewhere, Mr Miliband will on Monday thank trade unions at the TUC general dinner in Liverpool for their work on the Better Together campaign. | Elsewhere, Mr Miliband will on Monday thank trade unions at the TUC general dinner in Liverpool for their work on the Better Together campaign. |
He will say the unions have signed a joint statement, "declaring that our strength comes from staying together and that separation would damage the rights and conditions of working people". | He will say the unions have signed a joint statement, "declaring that our strength comes from staying together and that separation would damage the rights and conditions of working people". |
Elsewhere, Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones said that whatever was on the table must apply to the other UK countries. | Elsewhere, Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones said that whatever was on the table must apply to the other UK countries. |
He said: "Whatever further devolution is offered to Scotland must also be offered to Wales and Northern Ireland. | He said: "Whatever further devolution is offered to Scotland must also be offered to Wales and Northern Ireland. |
"The method and structure of devolution should be the same across the UK, even if the devolved powers may be different." | "The method and structure of devolution should be the same across the UK, even if the devolved powers may be different." |