This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29319942

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Salmond call to lower voting age after referendum Alex Salmond: Scotland is 'the winner' after referendum vote
(34 minutes later)
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has called for the voting age to be lowered to 16 in future elections. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has said "all of Scotland will emerge as the winner" following the vote against independence.
His comments came when the Scottish Parliament met for the first time since Scotland voted against independence. Mr Salmond said the nation was now the most politically engaged in western Europe, as he pledged to work on delivering more powers for Holyrood.
Voting in last Thursday's referendum was extended to 16 and 17-year-olds. He also called for the voting age to be lowered to 16 in future UK elections.
In a statement to parliament, Mr Salmond, who stands down later this year, also pledged to hold the UK parties to account over further powers. Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said the UK was the "settled will of the Scottish people", after the vote.
Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont is likely to offer to find common ground. As the Scottish Parliament met for the first time since last Thursday's referendum, Mr Salmond told MSPs: "Scotland now has the most politically engaged population in western Europe and one of the most engaged in any country, anywhere in the democratic world.
The comments will come as the head of the new commission on delivering more powers to Scotland warned it would "not be easy" to get agreement from the Scottish parties on the issue. "Across Scotland, people have been energised, enthused by politics in a way which has never happened before - certainly not in my experience and I suspect in the experience of anyone in this chamber.
Lord Smith is starting talks with the SNP, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens with the aim of getting agreement, ahead of legislation on new powers being unveiled by the end of January. "Wherever we're travelling together, we're a better nation today than we were at the start of this process. We are more informed, more enabled and more empowered."
Mr Salmond, who stands down as first minister and SNP leader later this year, added: "As a result of that, our great national debate in my estimation will help us make a fairer, more prosperous and more democratic country - and in all of that, all of Scotland will emerge as the winner."
The first minister said the case for 16 and 17-year-olds being allowed to vote in all UK elections - as they were in the independence referendum - was overwhelming and unanswerable.
Ms Lamont said the reality was that voters in Scotland had backed the union by 55% to 45%, in the referendum.
She told the chamber: "Much has been made by the 'Yes' side of the 1.6 million Scots who supported their case. It is an amazing achievement to get that many people in a country of this size to vote for any proposition.
"But we should recognise the achievement of the 'No' side, which gained two million votes of support who believed we are stronger as part of the United Kingdom."
She said of Mr Salmond: "While he might not have got he result he was looking for, we can all agree that the United Kingdom is now the settled will of the Scottish people.
"No longer will our United Kingdom see the consequence of a deal struck by the privileged few.
"It is now the choice of the many, expressed in a fair and democratic way in which we can all have confidence."
The comments came as the head of the new commission on delivering more powers to Scotland warned it would "not be easy" to get agreement from the Scottish parties on the issue.
Lord Smith is starting talks with the SNP, Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens with the aim of reaching an agreement. Legislation on new powers is due to be unveiled by the end of January.
The peer, whose appointment was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron, said the five Holyrood parties required "courage" and "compromise" to agree on the way forward.The peer, whose appointment was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron, said the five Holyrood parties required "courage" and "compromise" to agree on the way forward.
Meanwhile, MSPs will hold a debate on the outcome of the referendum, which saw voters reject independence by 55% to 45%. MSPs will hold a debate on the outcome of the referendum, which saw voters reject independence by 55% to 45%.
How close was the vote?How close was the vote?
The Scottish Liberal Democrats will urge "Yes" campaigners not to be bystanders as Holyrood pushes for further powers.
And the Scottish Conservatives will accuse the nationalists of having no intention of accepting the referendum result.
The SNP parliamentary group will also meet on Tuesday, with nominations for Mr Salmond's successor expected to open on Wednesday.The SNP parliamentary group will also meet on Tuesday, with nominations for Mr Salmond's successor expected to open on Wednesday.
Mr Salmond announced on Friday that he will stand down as first minister in November, with deputy SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon expected to emerge as the clear frontrunner to take over.Mr Salmond announced on Friday that he will stand down as first minister in November, with deputy SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon expected to emerge as the clear frontrunner to take over.
Also on Tuesday, Labour leader Ed Miliband is expected to tell his party's conference in Manchester that Scotland made the right choice voting against independence. Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont is likely to offering to find common ground with the SNP and others who backed independenceAlso on Tuesday, Labour leader Ed Miliband is expected to tell his party's conference in Manchester that Scotland made the right choice voting against independence. Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont is likely to offering to find common ground with the SNP and others who backed independence
On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron hosted a summit of senior Conservative MPs at Chequers to discuss plans to limit the Commons voting rights of Scottish MPs.On Monday, Prime Minister David Cameron hosted a summit of senior Conservative MPs at Chequers to discuss plans to limit the Commons voting rights of Scottish MPs.
The prime minister has said a pledge to give Scotland more powers should go hand-in-hand with changing the role of Scottish politicians at Westminster.The prime minister has said a pledge to give Scotland more powers should go hand-in-hand with changing the role of Scottish politicians at Westminster.
But he is under pressure from Conservative backbenchers angry at the way Mr Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg teamed up to offer more powers to Scotland.But he is under pressure from Conservative backbenchers angry at the way Mr Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg teamed up to offer more powers to Scotland.
Meanwhile, UKIP leader Nigel Farage told an audience in London he has "had enough of the Scottish tail wagging the English dog".Meanwhile, UKIP leader Nigel Farage told an audience in London he has "had enough of the Scottish tail wagging the English dog".
The MEP promised to campaign for a English parliament.The MEP promised to campaign for a English parliament.
The first minister's statement can be viewed live or on demand at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live.The first minister's statement can be viewed live or on demand at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live.