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| Scottish independence: SNP confirms referendum question | Scottish independence: SNP confirms referendum question |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Scottish government is to confirm the wording of the question it plans to put to the people of Scotland in the independence referendum. | The Scottish government is to confirm the wording of the question it plans to put to the people of Scotland in the independence referendum. |
| People will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" to the question: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" | People will be asked to vote "yes" or "no" to the question: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" |
| The question will now be scrutinised by the Electoral Commission watchdog. | The question will now be scrutinised by the Electoral Commission watchdog. |
| Critics of the question say it encourages a "yes" vote by not mentioning an end to the Union. | Critics of the question say it encourages a "yes" vote by not mentioning an end to the Union. |
| Scottish ministers first announced their preferred wording for the question in January. | |
| They will confirm on Friday they have decided to stick to the wording and will formally submit it to the Electoral Commission. | They will confirm on Friday they have decided to stick to the wording and will formally submit it to the Electoral Commission. |
| The Electoral Commission, an independent body, will test the question in focus groups to decide whether it is fair and easily understood, although the government and parliament is not bound by its conclusions. | The Electoral Commission, an independent body, will test the question in focus groups to decide whether it is fair and easily understood, although the government and parliament is not bound by its conclusions. |
| The final wording will be included in a Bill at Holyrood in spring of next year. | The final wording will be included in a Bill at Holyrood in spring of next year. |
| There have been calls from the SNP's opponents for a redrafting of the question to include the options "I agree" and "I disagree". | There have been calls from the SNP's opponents for a redrafting of the question to include the options "I agree" and "I disagree". |
| The Scottish Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders had previously called for an independent commission or elections expert to draft the question. | The Scottish Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders had previously called for an independent commission or elections expert to draft the question. |
| The referendum - due to be held in autumn 2014 - came after the UK and Scottish governments recently signed a deal on its terms, known as the Edinburgh Agreement. | The referendum - due to be held in autumn 2014 - came after the UK and Scottish governments recently signed a deal on its terms, known as the Edinburgh Agreement. |