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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| SNP outlines plans for referendum | SNP outlines plans for referendum |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has announced an independence referendum bill as the centrepiece of the SNP's plans for the coming year. | Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has announced an independence referendum bill as the centrepiece of the SNP's plans for the coming year. |
| The Scottish Government wants to stage the independence referendum in 2010. | The Scottish Government wants to stage the independence referendum in 2010. |
| However, the minority administration's plan faces being rejected because of a lack of parliamentary support. | |
| Mr Salmond revealed details of a total of 13 bills, including minimum alcohol pricing, marking the start of the SNP's third legislative session. | Mr Salmond revealed details of a total of 13 bills, including minimum alcohol pricing, marking the start of the SNP's third legislative session. |
| The first minister told MSPs there was a "consensus for change" on Scotland's constitutional status. | The first minister told MSPs there was a "consensus for change" on Scotland's constitutional status. |
| He said: "I want Scotland to have the same responsibilities and opportunities as similar nations. | He said: "I want Scotland to have the same responsibilities and opportunities as similar nations. |
| "Until we can use all the economic and financial levers available to every other government in the world, Scotland will always be at a competitive disadvantage." | "Until we can use all the economic and financial levers available to every other government in the world, Scotland will always be at a competitive disadvantage." |
| Brian TaylorBBC Scotland Political editor Mr Salmond acknowledged that he serves in, as he put it, a parliament of minorities. He knows he cannot push through his bill for a referendum on independence next year without support from other parties. | |
| He knows that support is not presently forthcoming. Labour, for example, has staggered through its "bring it on" phase - and now rejects a referendum on the professed grounds that it is an unwarranted distraction during economic crisis. Tories and LibDems ditto. | |
| So why the smile? Because Mr Salmond calculates that, setting aside views on independence per se, the intrinsic notion of a plebiscite tends to be rather popular with the people due to be consulted. | |
| He calculates, further, that those same people will tend to resent or, at least, question those who would seek to frustrate an exercise in popular democracy. Read Brian Taylor's blog At a glance - the bills Q&A on the referendum | |
| Mr Salmond said he had been "very proud" to lead the Scottish Government but warned a "glass ceiling" threatened to stall the country's progress. | Mr Salmond said he had been "very proud" to lead the Scottish Government but warned a "glass ceiling" threatened to stall the country's progress. |
| "This government was elected with a popular mandate to put the question of Scotland's future to the vote in a referendum," he said. | "This government was elected with a popular mandate to put the question of Scotland's future to the vote in a referendum," he said. |
| "It is time for the people of Scotland to have their say. Not everyone will agree with our vision for the future, we know that. | "It is time for the people of Scotland to have their say. Not everyone will agree with our vision for the future, we know that. |
| "But the people of Scotland must be heard. This parliament should not stand in their way - let the people speak." | "But the people of Scotland must be heard. This parliament should not stand in their way - let the people speak." |
| The Scottish Government has said it could be a multi-option referendum - and this could include the tax changes proposed by the Calman Commission on devolution. | |
| Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said the SNP's priorities should be the economy and crime. | Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said the SNP's priorities should be the economy and crime. |
| Mr Gray said: "This year's flagship, the referendum bill, was preannounced last year. It starts with even less support than the late unlamented council tax bill of last year. | Mr Gray said: "This year's flagship, the referendum bill, was preannounced last year. It starts with even less support than the late unlamented council tax bill of last year. |
| "With its rigged question to suit the SNP, its rigged timetable to suit the SNP and its misplaced prioritisation to suit the SNP, it is a flagship begging to be scuttled." | "With its rigged question to suit the SNP, its rigged timetable to suit the SNP and its misplaced prioritisation to suit the SNP, it is a flagship begging to be scuttled." |
| Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said Mr Salmond had chosen "posturing" over confronting the challenges facing Scotland. | Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said Mr Salmond had chosen "posturing" over confronting the challenges facing Scotland. |
| She said he was a "lone voice representing a minority view". | She said he was a "lone voice representing a minority view". |
| Alcohol problem | Alcohol problem |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott said he would support the government when it concentrated on people's jobs and on the recession. | |
| He said: "We will not support the government when the SNP's internal party politics are more important than the country. | |
| "The referendum is about the SNP. The recession and jobs is about Scotland. We will put Scotland before the SNP." | |
| Other bills put before the parliament include a minimum pricing strategy aimed at stopping high-strength alcohol being sold for "pocket money prices", without affecting premium products like Scotch whisky. | Other bills put before the parliament include a minimum pricing strategy aimed at stopping high-strength alcohol being sold for "pocket money prices", without affecting premium products like Scotch whisky. |
| That plan has run into opposition, but ministers said tough action must be taken to cut the cost of Scotland's alcohol problem, which they estimate costs the country £2.25bn per year. | That plan has run into opposition, but ministers said tough action must be taken to cut the cost of Scotland's alcohol problem, which they estimate costs the country £2.25bn per year. |
| There will also be a bill for a replacement of the Forth crossing, building a new bridge to the west of the current road crossing. | There will also be a bill for a replacement of the Forth crossing, building a new bridge to the west of the current road crossing. |
| A housing bill would end the right-to-buy for all new-supply social housing and there will be a bill to give patients greater rights on waiting times in the NHS. | A housing bill would end the right-to-buy for all new-supply social housing and there will be a bill to give patients greater rights on waiting times in the NHS. |