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| Scottish independence: Salmond to announce referendum day | Scottish independence: Salmond to announce referendum day |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond will reveal the date of the independence referendum in a statement to parliament later. | |
| Draft legislation on holding the vote is due to be brought before Holyrood. | Draft legislation on holding the vote is due to be brought before Holyrood. |
| The SNP previously only said it would take place in autumn 2014, sparking opposition claims of Scotland being "kept in the dark". | The SNP previously only said it would take place in autumn 2014, sparking opposition claims of Scotland being "kept in the dark". |
| 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?" |
| Speaking ahead of the announcement, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it would be a key milestone in the debate. | Speaking ahead of the announcement, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it would be a key milestone in the debate. |
| Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, whose party is part of the campaign to keep the Union, said the SNP government had become so obsessed with winning independence that hard-pressed families were being ignored. | Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, whose party is part of the campaign to keep the Union, said the SNP government had become so obsessed with winning independence that hard-pressed families were being ignored. |
| A Referendum Bill to be put before Holyrood will need the approval of MSPs, although the SNP's parliamentary majority means the passage of the legislation is assured. | A Referendum Bill to be put before Holyrood will need the approval of MSPs, although the SNP's parliamentary majority means the passage of the legislation is assured. |
| The Scottish government has already introduced separate draft legislation to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the ballot. | The Scottish government has already introduced separate draft legislation to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the ballot. |
| Scottish ministers - who will publish their substantive case for independence in a white paper later this year - say a "Yes" vote will allow Scotland to use its natural assets to build a better country. | Scottish ministers - who will publish their substantive case for independence in a white paper later this year - say a "Yes" vote will allow Scotland to use its natural assets to build a better country. |
| Opposition parties argue Scotland is better off as part of the wider UK. | Opposition parties argue Scotland is better off as part of the wider UK. |
| Ms Sturgeon told the BBC it was an "exciting day", adding: "Everybody in Scotland, no matter what side of the debate they are on, will recognise this as a key milestone on the road to the referendum. | Ms Sturgeon told the BBC it was an "exciting day", adding: "Everybody in Scotland, no matter what side of the debate they are on, will recognise this as a key milestone on the road to the referendum. |
| "The day of the referendum will be confirmed, when we can decide to take our own future into our own hands to vote for independence and the powers we need to build a fairer, more prosperous country that we all want to see." | "The day of the referendum will be confirmed, when we can decide to take our own future into our own hands to vote for independence and the powers we need to build a fairer, more prosperous country that we all want to see." |
| When asked about speculation in The Sun newspaper that the referendum would be held on 18 October, 2014, Ms Sturgeon said her "lips were sealed", adding: "Lots of dates have been mentioned." | When asked about speculation in The Sun newspaper that the referendum would be held on 18 October, 2014, Ms Sturgeon said her "lips were sealed", adding: "Lots of dates have been mentioned." |
| Ms Lamont said she would prefer the referendum to be held sooner, rather than later. | Ms Lamont said she would prefer the referendum to be held sooner, rather than later. |
| "Scotland has been waiting far too long, both for the date to be announced and engagement in a serious debate about the referendum," said the Scottish Labour leader. | "Scotland has been waiting far too long, both for the date to be announced and engagement in a serious debate about the referendum," said the Scottish Labour leader. |
| "The reality is that, while the first minister plays around at when he's going to give us the date, he's not doing his day job, which is running the country. | "The reality is that, while the first minister plays around at when he's going to give us the date, he's not doing his day job, which is running the country. |
| "Our services are under pressure and families are under pressure and they deserve a government which has got them as a focus, not their own party obsessions." | "Our services are under pressure and families are under pressure and they deserve a government which has got them as a focus, not their own party obsessions." |
| Politicians at the Scottish Parliament will determine the arrangements for the referendum after Mr Salmond and Prime Minister David Cameron signed an deal known as the Edinburgh Agreement in October 2012. | Politicians at the Scottish Parliament will determine the arrangements for the referendum after Mr Salmond and Prime Minister David Cameron signed an deal known as the Edinburgh Agreement in October 2012. |
| It included: | It included: |