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Scottish independence: Powers and rights on referendum agenda Scottish independence: Voters to have say on 'Yes' constitution plan
(about 14 hours later)
The leading opposition parties in Scotland are to make a joint declaration on further powers for the Scottish parliament. People in Scotland have been asked to have their say on how the nation would be run if independent, Scotland's deputy first minister has said.
Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats each have their own plan for further devolution. Nicola Sturgeon's comments came as she unveiled a roadmap for a Scottish constitution, in the event of a "Yes" vote in the 18 September referendum.
They will come together later to argue that there are strong common themes in what they propose. She said it would contain an obligation to remove Trident nuclear weapons from Scotland.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government will say how constitutional rights would be guaranteed after independence. Pro-Union parties are setting out plans for more devolved powers.
The opposition parties will promise that, whichever of them wins the next UK general election, Holyrood's powers will be increased. Ms Sturgeon said draft legislation setting out the foundations of an independent Scotland was now open for comments from the public.
They are expected to stress that they all want more decisions about matters such as taxation and welfare spending to be made in Scotland. She said the Scottish Independence Bill would provide:
All three will argue that this amounts to a guarantee of constitutional reform. The interim constitution has proposed an obligation to remove Trident nuclear weapons from Scotland, strengthen human rights protection and safeguard children.
Supporters of independence have argued that no significant change is guaranteed without a "Yes" vote in the referendum. Background and analysis
The Scottish government is preparing to outline its plans for the constitution of an independent Scotland. Ms Sturgeon said the UK was the only EU or Commonwealth country without a written constitution or a Constitution Act.
The right to free education and the absence of nuclear weapons on Scottish soil will form part of the proposal. In a speech at Edinburgh University, she said: "A written constitution can be the foundation on which we can build that better Scotland.
Ministers have stressed that there would be "thorough" consultation on the detail of the plans. "A written constitution is an important part of a nation's identity - it defines who we are and sets out the values that we hold dear.
"It would be our 'Scottish declaration of independence', founded on the principle that in Scotland, the people are sovereign, not the government or the parliament."
Elsewhere on the referendum campaign trail . . .
The deputy first minister said the process of creating the constitution would in many ways be as important as its contents.
She explained: "This principle - of the sovereignty of the people - is also key to the argument for independence.
"The people who have the biggest stake in a successful Scotland are those who live and work here."
Meanwhile, Scotland's leading opposition parties - Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats - made a joint pledge on more powers for the Scottish Parliament in the event of a referendum "No" vote.
Each of the parties has already set out proposals to devolve more power to Holyrood and will promise to act on them, whoever wins the next UK general election.