This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/mar/21/scottish-independence-referendum-date
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Scottish independence referendum date announced | Scottish independence referendum date announced |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Alex Salmond has announced that Scotland's independence referendum will be held on Thursday 18 September next year. | Alex Salmond has announced that Scotland's independence referendum will be held on Thursday 18 September next year. |
| The first minister's statement, nearly two years after winning his landslide election victory, came as the Scottish parliament publishes its draft referendum bill to enact the poll. | The first minister's statement, nearly two years after winning his landslide election victory, came as the Scottish parliament publishes its draft referendum bill to enact the poll. |
| Voters, set to include 16- and 17-year-olds for the first time in a major poll, will be asked a single six-word question: "Should Scotland become an independent country?" | Voters, set to include 16- and 17-year-olds for the first time in a major poll, will be asked a single six-word question: "Should Scotland become an independent country?" |
| The bill sets out spending limits for the opposing campaigns and political parties, and confirms further details about the franchise including 16- and 17-year-olds. | The bill sets out spending limits for the opposing campaigns and political parties, and confirms further details about the franchise including 16- and 17-year-olds. |
| Salmond declared that Thursday 18 September would be "a date which becomes etched in our nation's story as the day Scotland took a decisive step forward to a better, fairer future". | Salmond declared that Thursday 18 September would be "a date which becomes etched in our nation's story as the day Scotland took a decisive step forward to a better, fairer future". |
| In his address to the Scottish parliament the first minister painted a scenario in which "Scotland now faces two futures". He contrasted the UK – "an outdated political entity that ill-serves the interests of the people of Scotland" – with an independent Scotland that "will get a parliament that is both fully empowered and fully accountable to those whose lives are affected by its actions". | |
| Labour said the long delay in setting up the poll since Salmond's victory in May 2011 was proof that he knew he was going to lose. | Labour said the long delay in setting up the poll since Salmond's victory in May 2011 was proof that he knew he was going to lose. |
| Johann Lamont, the Scottish Labour leader, said the 18 months between now and 18 September 2014 would leave Scotland "on pause", delaying much needed action on poverty and economic recovery. "The truth is that Alex Salmond knows if he held the referendum now, he wouldn't just lose, he would be routed." | Johann Lamont, the Scottish Labour leader, said the 18 months between now and 18 September 2014 would leave Scotland "on pause", delaying much needed action on poverty and economic recovery. "The truth is that Alex Salmond knows if he held the referendum now, he wouldn't just lose, he would be routed." |
| Salmond retorted that voting "yes" in the referendum would allow Scotland to take direct control over its economy and welfare strategy. "Independence will be instrumental in bringing about that socially just and more prosperous Scotland that society wishes to see," he said. | Salmond retorted that voting "yes" in the referendum would allow Scotland to take direct control over its economy and welfare strategy. "Independence will be instrumental in bringing about that socially just and more prosperous Scotland that society wishes to see," he said. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy first minister, who is charged with leading the Scottish government's referendum campaign, said before the announcement that it marked "a significant and important step in Scotland's independence journey". | Nicola Sturgeon, the deputy first minister, who is charged with leading the Scottish government's referendum campaign, said before the announcement that it marked "a significant and important step in Scotland's independence journey". |
| Speaking as she met apprentices at Steel Engineering in Renfrewshire, which fabricates tidal and wind turbines, she said: "We have an ambitious vision for this country, one that is prosperous and successful, reflecting Scottish values of fairness and opportunity, promoting equality and social cohesion. But I believe this vision can only be realised through the powers that independence will bring." | Speaking as she met apprentices at Steel Engineering in Renfrewshire, which fabricates tidal and wind turbines, she said: "We have an ambitious vision for this country, one that is prosperous and successful, reflecting Scottish values of fairness and opportunity, promoting equality and social cohesion. But I believe this vision can only be realised through the powers that independence will bring." |
| The apprentice engineers were due to cut the date for the referendum out of steel plate with a laser. | The apprentice engineers were due to cut the date for the referendum out of steel plate with a laser. |
| Temporary powers to stage the referendum were transferred to the Scottish parliament under the Edinburgh agreement between Salmond and David Cameron, which was signed in October. | Temporary powers to stage the referendum were transferred to the Scottish parliament under the Edinburgh agreement between Salmond and David Cameron, which was signed in October. |
| The Scottish National party and wider independence movement, which includes the Scottish Green party, face a significant deficit in opinion polls, with support for independence remaining at about a third of voters. Recent surveys have put support for leaving the UK 19 points behind support for remaining in it. | The Scottish National party and wider independence movement, which includes the Scottish Green party, face a significant deficit in opinion polls, with support for independence remaining at about a third of voters. Recent surveys have put support for leaving the UK 19 points behind support for remaining in it. |
| Scottish ministers insist the real debate has yet to start: they are due to publish a detailed "prospectus" for independence in November. | Scottish ministers insist the real debate has yet to start: they are due to publish a detailed "prospectus" for independence in November. |
| The September date is a month earlier than had been speculated after Salmond's apparent preferred date of Saturday 18 October 2014 was leaked to the launch edition of the Sun on Sunday newspaper. There had been concern that staging a vote on a Saturday would disadvantage some religious groups who would be prohibited from voting or object to votes being counted on a Sunday. | The September date is a month earlier than had been speculated after Salmond's apparent preferred date of Saturday 18 October 2014 was leaked to the launch edition of the Sun on Sunday newspaper. There had been concern that staging a vote on a Saturday would disadvantage some religious groups who would be prohibited from voting or object to votes being counted on a Sunday. |