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| Scottish independence: Referendum campaigns mark 100 day milestone | Scottish independence: Referendum campaigns mark 100 day milestone |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Campaigners in the Scottish independence debate have marked 100 days until the referendum. | Campaigners in the Scottish independence debate have marked 100 days until the referendum. |
| First Minister Alex Salmond said there was enough time for the "Yes" campaign to close the gap on opponents, ahead of the 18 September vote. | First Minister Alex Salmond said there was enough time for the "Yes" campaign to close the gap on opponents, ahead of the 18 September vote. |
| Alistair Darling, of the pro-Union Better Together campaign, said he was confident of a deal on new Scottish Parliament powers after a "No" vote. | Alistair Darling, of the pro-Union Better Together campaign, said he was confident of a deal on new Scottish Parliament powers after a "No" vote. |
| Opinion polls suggest the campaign for the Union is ahead in the race. | Opinion polls suggest the campaign for the Union is ahead in the race. |
| However, the official campaign for independence, Yes Scotland, claimed undecided voters were backing its case at a rate of two-to-one compared with those who shifted to a pro-Union position. | However, the official campaign for independence, Yes Scotland, claimed undecided voters were backing its case at a rate of two-to-one compared with those who shifted to a pro-Union position. |
| Mr Salmond told BBC Scotland's Glenn Campbell he believed 100 days was plenty of time for the gap to be overturned. | Mr Salmond told BBC Scotland's Glenn Campbell he believed 100 days was plenty of time for the gap to be overturned. |
| "If you average all the polls then I think we need a 6% swing," said the first minister, adding: "In the months before the last Scottish elections we got a 16% swing in this sort of timescale. | "If you average all the polls then I think we need a 6% swing," said the first minister, adding: "In the months before the last Scottish elections we got a 16% swing in this sort of timescale. |
| "Yes we have got enough time - it is not the time that is the issue. It is winning the arguments, winning the discussion." | "Yes we have got enough time - it is not the time that is the issue. It is winning the arguments, winning the discussion." |
| Mr Salmond said: "The key argument to winning is not just Scotland being more prosperous, but a better and a more equal society using the natural resources and human resources of the country. If we win that argument, we win the referendum." | Mr Salmond said: "The key argument to winning is not just Scotland being more prosperous, but a better and a more equal society using the natural resources and human resources of the country. If we win that argument, we win the referendum." |
| The first minister went on to say politicians on the "Yes" side were "substantially more popular" than their opponents, which he suggested gave them an advantage in terms of credibility. | The first minister went on to say politicians on the "Yes" side were "substantially more popular" than their opponents, which he suggested gave them an advantage in terms of credibility. |
| He said: "If the 'Yes' campaign set out the case for Scotland being a more prosperous but also a more equal society, is that going to be credible with the Scottish population? I think the answer to that is 'Yes'. | He said: "If the 'Yes' campaign set out the case for Scotland being a more prosperous but also a more equal society, is that going to be credible with the Scottish population? I think the answer to that is 'Yes'. |
| "If the No campaign keep saying that the seven plagues of Egypt are going to descend on the country once we vote for independence, are they going to be believed? I think the answer to that is 'No'." | "If the No campaign keep saying that the seven plagues of Egypt are going to descend on the country once we vote for independence, are they going to be believed? I think the answer to that is 'No'." |
| Cabinet event | |
| Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, marked the 100-day milestone by hosting the Scottish government's first all-women cabinet event, in Edinburgh. | Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, marked the 100-day milestone by hosting the Scottish government's first all-women cabinet event, in Edinburgh. |
| It offered more than 100 women the opportunity to ask female ministers about issues such as female representation on boards and childcare improvement. | It offered more than 100 women the opportunity to ask female ministers about issues such as female representation on boards and childcare improvement. |
| The Scottish government is proposing mandatory quotas that ensure a minimum of 40% of women's representation on public boards. | The Scottish government is proposing mandatory quotas that ensure a minimum of 40% of women's representation on public boards. |
| Ms Sturgeon said she believed the objective should be to get female representation to 52%, which would equal the female percentage of the population in Scotland. | Ms Sturgeon said she believed the objective should be to get female representation to 52%, which would equal the female percentage of the population in Scotland. |
| Next election | |
| She added: "I want to see the process of drawing up a written constitution for an independent Scotland be as open and collaborative as possible - and that does mean women have to be equally represented around that table when it comes to that." | She added: "I want to see the process of drawing up a written constitution for an independent Scotland be as open and collaborative as possible - and that does mean women have to be equally represented around that table when it comes to that." |
| Meanwhile, Mr Darling launched Better Together's 100 Days to Go campaign in Glasgow, saying a strengthened Scottish Parliament within the UK offered "the best of both worlds". | Meanwhile, Mr Darling launched Better Together's 100 Days to Go campaign in Glasgow, saying a strengthened Scottish Parliament within the UK offered "the best of both worlds". |
| He told the BBC the main pro-Union parties had now promised "substantial expansion" to Holyrood's powers which would be contained in their manifestoes for the 2015 UK election. | He told the BBC the main pro-Union parties had now promised "substantial expansion" to Holyrood's powers which would be contained in their manifestoes for the 2015 UK election. |
| "If people vote 'No' it will be a vote for change - it's not the status quo," said the former UK chancellor. | "If people vote 'No' it will be a vote for change - it's not the status quo," said the former UK chancellor. |
| "All three parties have come up with proposals - and they're not that very different actually - and I hope, in the next period, they will come together, so we'll have a proposal that can be put to people. | "All three parties have come up with proposals - and they're not that very different actually - and I hope, in the next period, they will come together, so we'll have a proposal that can be put to people. |
| "People will know that all three party leaders have said there will be a commitment to legislate after the next general election, so there's a clear choice - a choice for change within the United Kingdom or simply breaking away and leaving the UK." | "People will know that all three party leaders have said there will be a commitment to legislate after the next general election, so there's a clear choice - a choice for change within the United Kingdom or simply breaking away and leaving the UK." |
| Asked if there should be a cross-party offer on more Holyrood powers before the referendum, Mr Darling responded: "I think the first thing you've got to decide is whether we're staying in the UK, or whether we're leaving. | Asked if there should be a cross-party offer on more Holyrood powers before the referendum, Mr Darling responded: "I think the first thing you've got to decide is whether we're staying in the UK, or whether we're leaving. |
| "If we get a a 'No' vote, if we're staying in the UK, then I would like to see the three parties come together so we can have a proposal ready for legislation, probably immediately after the next general election, which is less than a year away now." | "If we get a a 'No' vote, if we're staying in the UK, then I would like to see the three parties come together so we can have a proposal ready for legislation, probably immediately after the next general election, which is less than a year away now." |
| Elsewhere, in a speech in London, Gordon Brown said Prime Minister David Cameron should debate the independence issue with Mr Salmond, ahead of the referendum. | |
| The former PM dismissed arguments Mr Cameron should stand back from the battle because he was toxic to Scottish voters. | |
| "The prime minister has got to be part of this debate," Mr Brown told journalists at a Westminster lunch. | |
| He added: "I think it would be a good idea if David Cameron did debate Alex Salmond, but I'm not involved in the negotiations." |