Scotland’s referendum will be held on 18 September next year, First Minister Alex Salmond announced in the Scottish Parliament.
The date is contained in the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill, introduced to the Parliament and published today, which also confirms that voters will be asked the question “Should Scotland be an independent country?”.
The legislation provides that the referendum will be:
- preceded by a 16-week formal campaign period, during which limits will apply to the amount of money any registered participant may spend on campaigning, aimed at ensuring a level playing field for both sides of the debate;
- overseen by the independent Electoral Commission, responsible for regulating the campaign rules, informing the public about the referendum and reporting to the Scottish Parliament on the conduct and administration of the referendum; and
- conducted under the direction of a Chief Counting Officer responsible for appointing local Counting Officers to run the poll in local areas.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “On 18 September 2014 people across Scotland will vote to determine their country’s future. It will be a historic day, and one on which this ancient nation decides its place in the world.
“People will be able to choose if they want a Scotland that is independent and able to make her own decisions – with a Scottish Parliament that is responsible for making the most of Scotland’s rich resources to benefit its communities and safeguard the welfare of our most vulnerable citizens and accountable for how we engage other nations around the world.
“Devolution has shown how we can use Holyrood’s powers to improve lives in the policy areas where we are already effectively independent.
“Scotland has made great strides since our national Parliament was reconvened in 1999 after almost 300 years. We are a more confident country, secure in the knowledge that when we take decisions for ourselves we can help make this a better place to live for all our citizens.
“Landmark policies introduced since devolution have made Scotland a safer, healthier and fairer country. Throughout the Parliament’s history, we have used our powers for progressive purposes – such as free personal care, pioneering homelessness legislation, an end to tuition fees, and protecting the National Health Service.
“But we can and must do more – and only the powers of an independent Parliament with control of the economy, of international representation and of security will allow us to make the most of our huge national potential.
“Scotland now faces two futures: continuing with an outdated political entity that ill-serves the interests of the people of Scotland – a system that will continue to give us governments we didn’t vote for. Or independence, where Scotland will get a Parliament that is both fully-empowered and fully-accountable to those whose lives are affected by its actions.
“With full economic levers and access to our huge natural resources, we can not only defend the progress made with devolution but we can become a fairer, more prosperous society. And one where a new, 21st Century relationship is forged between the nations of these islands and with the wider community of nations.
“18 September 2014 can 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.”
The Scottish Independence Referendum Bill (and supporting documents) can be read here: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/61076.aspx
The Chief Counting Officer will be the convener of Electoral Management Board for Scotland.
The Bill sets out the details of how the referendum will be organised and regulated.
The details of who can vote in the referendum, are included in the Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill that was published on March 12 this year http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2013/03/referendum-franchise12032013
The costs of running and regulating the referendum, funding a mailshot for each of the designated organisations and running public awareness campaigns is broken down as follows:
- £8.6 million for running the referendum
- £2.4 million to pay for a free mailshot for the two campaign organisations (which was included as part of the Edinburgh Agreement (paragraphs 22 and 23) at the request of the UK Government)
- £2.4 million for the Electoral Commission providing regulation and oversight of the referendum. Scottish Government has accepted the Commission’s recommendation that £1.8 million should be used for public awareness campaigns).
I hope the alternative political parties are seriously working on forming an alternative to an SNP Goverment when a YES vote is delivered not just sitting smug hoping it will not happen.We need it to happen and we need to have choices come May 2015.
As an Englishman and a Brit, it would be utter madness to allow the Union be allowed to fall apart. Scotland’s contribution to the wealth of the UK is immeasurable and its Cabinet Ministers innumerable. Salmond seems to play to the worst excesses of the Daily Mail and goads the sensibilities of the middle class south of the Border. Truly hideous politics of envy, fear and loathing.
Mark Clark, as you rightly say, Scotland’s contribution to the wealth of the YUK is immeasurable. This, however, actually means that the money and resources stolen from Scotland is being used to subsidize and prop up the failed English state, to the detriment of Scotland.
Why should we not want to live in a Scotland that is controlled by the Scottish people, on behalf of the Scottish people and for the benefit of the Scottish people? Why should Scotland wish to remain as an exploited and impoverished colony, subject to the whims of a foreign government? Why shouldn’t Scotland’s wealth be used to improve and advance Scotland for the benefit of the Scottish people, rather than being siphoned off to benefit foreigners? Why should Scotland allow itself to be used as a dumping ground for depleted uranium in the Solway Firth? Why should Scotland be forced to house a foreign power’s nuclear weapons, which that foreign power has stated are too dangerous to be placed near a populated English town (Devonport), but are apparently safe enough to be stored near Scotland’s major population area? Does this mean that the people of Scotland are less valuable and less worthy of consideration than the people of England?
As was shown by the McCrone Report, the English government was quite happy to hide the truth about Scotland’s wealth because it did not want to reveal the extent of the theft of Scotland’s resources. The M25 was, for example, totally financed by Scotland’s money, at the same time as roads in Scotland were left to deteriorate. Scotland’s resources are also going to be used to build the HS2 system, which will give no benefit to Scotland. The English government would not, however, even give enough money to build the long awaited road, even a single track road, from North Tolsta to Sgiogarstaigh (a whole six miles).
However, we, in Scotland, have to put up with the continual lies and abuse from the English, from the Unionists, the Quislings and the Fifth Columnists that they (the English) are supporting us, that its is them that is propping up Scotland, and that the Scots are a bunch of benefits scroungers. These Quislings are no better than those Scots that signed the Treaty of Union for a handful of English gold.
We are also subjected to continual lies about how an independent Scotland wouldn’t be able to do this, that or the other. All that blatant lies and scaremongering stories of how the postal system would no longer work in Scotland; how we would need to set up passport controls on the Scottish border (a good idea in my opinion); how Scots would no longer be able to visit their relatives in England, and vice versa; how we will be unable to have a Scottish defence force; how we are too wee, too poor and to stupid to run our own country.
In addition to the above, an independent Scotland would no longer be involved in illegal or dodgy wars on behalf of the Americans. Scottish troops would no longer be killed and maimed because the poodles in Wastemidden, when told to jump by their American masters, ask, “how high?” We would no longer have to contribute towards the vast sums wasted on these poodle wars, e.g. in excess of £30 billion for Iraq, £20 billion and rising for Afghanistan, £3 billion for Libya, many millions for Mali and God knows how much for supporting the terrorists in Syria. Moreover, if Syria falls to the terrorists, and the Americans advance their plans to invade Iran, we (the Wastemidden poodles) would be involved on the orders of the Americans.
Why should Scots continue to allow themselves to be used as cannon fodder for the English? Examples of the English attitude towards this can be seen in the two following quotes:
“What better ways to rid one’s enemies than in one’s service”
Prime Minister Pitt on raising the Highland regiments for cannon fodder.
And
“They are hardy, intrepid, accustomed to a rough country, and no great mischief if they fall”
General Wolfe on the Highlanders in Canada.
In summary, There seems to be no end to the attempted scaremongering, bile-mongering, blatant lies and propaganda being regurgitated by the One Nation, Bitter Together Unionists, Quislings and Fifth Columnists (and that includes many of the New Blue London Labour Party (Scottish Branch) a.k.a. the Pink Tories..
The anti-Scottish attitude of the Quislings in particular is both disgusting and cringe-worthy. They don’t appear to realize that their behaviour is appalling to real Scots, and must give a very poor impression to many people overseas when they see these pathetic little people berating their own country.
We know that the English are desperate to hang on to Scotland as they know that we are propping up the failed English state, but if the Quislings are so keen on being part of England, all they need to do is move.
It is not Scotland’s job to continue to subsidize the English. They have to learn to stand on their own two feet. They have kept the Scots as beggars in their own country for far too long, but no more, it will stop. We are no longer willing to quietly accept the crumbs from their table whilst they live the life of Reilly on our money and our resources.
It is time for the Scots to get up off their knees, stop tugging their forelocks to their English “betters” and be a nation again. Vote YES and we can control our own destiny, free from the malign influence of and theft by the English government.
Lochie Fulminates about Freedom Day Date.
Despite and against all my freely given advice to go for it after he wins the 100mtrs at the Commonwealth Games in May Alex has once again ignored my humble and learned opinion and nothing I could shout at him would convince him that he has made a major mistake in going for September too soon after the MP tosses his caber at the Carloway Show and when everyone north of Berwick and the MSP is focused on the Mod, honestly he will do anything to stop little Nicola winning the gold medal. He has obviously forgotten the time when Donald and I stopped Harold Wilson holding an election during the Mod at a time when it took two weeks and a short stay in hospital before you got back to lift the potatoes.
There was no messing in those days and I made straight for Number 10, no gates or security and a policeman from North Uist, and demanded of Maria Forkbender before she was a lady that the date be changed forwith and it was. Donald took to his bed quaking with fear when he heard I was on my way to Downing Street, but when he heard my mission was successful he took the credit himself and got in by a landslide because the Socialists fielded fifteen candidates if memory serves, ranging from right to left, NATO to CND.
This reminds me that a lot of our MP’s in Westminster have gone native demanding more occupying bases and military personnel from England and who knows where to come to keep us under control. That fellow Robertson should have stuck to making rhubarb jam with his family rather than whining constantly that our Dear Scotland should have more army boots clod hopping all over us to keep us in order. What happened to “troops out now!” as we used to bark and shout at those huge demos in Cromwell Street before making for the Crit for several jars of McEwen’s pale ale on draft with a bottle of wee heavy ( not the one from Manor Park) to give it a bite.
What a man that Caravan is although I could hardly hear him for the shuffling of the chairs, the burping and worse of that fat fellow behind me and the shifty shuffling from the socialists, although I introduced myself as a man well acquainted with the wily ways of Westminster he would not look me in the eye and reclaimed his sweaty hand from my grip an easy task since I hadn’t quite managed to remove the Duckham’s Special 3 Point Linkage Grease from my own hands after my afternoons toil.
That MP for Barra has also let the pussy out of the bag by encouraging all the Islands to declare UDI and go Independent easy enough for Tavish Scott with his oil funds and Orkney next door, but what about our GDP and balance of payments? Alex was not happy and roared along the deserted corridors of Brute House like a bull moose on an ice flow, so much so that the resident ginger pussy fled for shelter. Anyway it will not happen, what would we be called- SHORKWI? WISHORK? ORKWISH? You see the difficulty and the endless debate about the name and how would we get the oil off them, and would they trade in tweed and wind?
Time to make the marags, once I hose down the caolans and chop the suet, served with the first of the rhubarb and the last of the kerr’s pinks, happy days and freedom just round the corner!
The border to be returned to Hadrians Wall.
All those residing in the Disputed Lands should have the right to vote in the Referendum.
Like it or not the whole argument surrounding independence is centred around economics. Scotlands divided share of the national debt coupled with 65% of the working population being directly or indirectly employed by the state would see it being bankrupted immediately!
I fail to find any arguments to the contrary
Mark Guga rather seems to prove your point
Guga, I have no idea what planet you’re living on, but clearly you’re writing for a conspiratorial clique of spittle flecked tartan clad ‘flat earthers’ who have no idea of the consequences of going it alone.
As James44 writes above, the State whether regional or national, hands out the majority of jobs and once you have the share of national debt to which you’re entitled, and cheerfully created by Scottish Ministers in the last Labour Administration then I’m afraid you’re a busted flush.
There is no panacea in the oft quoted ‘North Sea oil’ bonanza. Its gone for good, but its influence is reflected in the house prices in Aberdeen. It’s disappointing that Westminster didn’t set up a sovereign wealth fund as Norway did to benefit the nation in future years. But we can’t turn the clock back.
As an Englishman in the wilds of Hampshire, many of my friends would take your hand off in your public spirited offer to go it alone.
We see your wee pretendy Parliament give away our hard earned taxes delivered to you via the broken Barnett formula on free elderly care and prescriptions and golden elephants whilst we in the cramped South East get no such benefits. Believe me, they would cheerfully wave goodbye as you float off into the North Sea sinking slowlly under the weight of Alex Salmond’s ego and Nicola Sturgeon’s hubris.
Perhaps you could touch the hem of Alex’ kilt and ask him for a job at the same time.
I still believe, despite the lunacy of the SNP, we’re better together, even through gritted teeth.
Rather than take on Mr ‘Yus’ Caravan in the Queen Mary IV stakes at Rippon, can Mr Lochie provide a guide as to how Quislings can be served at a dinner party. I am entertaining the boss and his husband. What wine would you suggest kind sir?
Mark Clark, I see that you persist in reiterating the lies and propaganda of the One Nation, Bitter Together Unionists, Quislings and Fifth Columnists, e.g. “once you have the share of national debt to which you’re entitled, and cheerfully created by Scottish Ministers in the last Labour Administration then I’m afraid you’re a busted flush.”
You seem to forget, conveniently, like all the colonial overseers, that even if account is taken of Scotland’s share of the “national” debt (built up by a foreign government, even if it did contain a poodle like Broon), you would also have to take account of Scotland’s share of the “national” assets. Such assets would include a share of every last item financed, bought and paid for, maintained and serviced by the English government, including all your national buildings, every motorway, every road, all the assets of the army, navy and airforce, civil service, the English embassies, High Commissions, money, gold (what’s left of it) etc. etc. etc.
If account is taken of Scotland’s share of all these assets, then the busted flush would be the English government, and Scotland would have even greater assets, and England would be even further in debt.
As to the question of oil, it is not, despite your pathetic propaganda attempts, gone for good. What is left will keep Scotland in an excellent financial position for many more decades to come; especially as it will no longer be used to prop up the failed English state.
I also note that, like a typical foreign colonialist, you can’t help but show your true colours with your comments like “…spittle flecked tartan clad….”, and “wee pretendy parliament”. It is also notable that, like a typical southern Englishman, you have no care or regard for the common weal, with your obvious detestation for things like free elderly care. You obviously do not appreciate the fact that it is a part of the Scottish character to try and help those less fortunate than ourselves, including trying to look after our elderly.
In any event, even through your “gritted teeth”, you still want to keep control of Scotland and Scottish money and resources. Given your general attitude towards the Scots, and their temerity to want to govern themselves, even with their “wee pretendy parliament”, I would have thought you would be glad to see the back of us. However, the fact that, as an independent country, Scotland would be about the 8th wealthiest country in the world, and that without Scotland’s money and resources, England would be in the same financial position as Greece, means that you and your ilk will try any means you can to keep Scotland as a colony to be used, abused and exploited.
And yet another reasoned, rational and informative argument from Guga. Much more of this and I am not sure I want to stay in Scotland or indeed given Gugu’s sectarian opinions am even wanted in Scotland. What a sad era of bitterness this National Socialist Government has created with the Independance debate.
Paul, In what way are my opinions “sectarian”? Did I mention Catholics, or Protestants, or even Muslims or any other sect?
As to whether you wish to stay in Scotland after independence, that is entirely your decision. I have neither said nor implied that you would not be welcome. If you wish to remain in Scotland, become a Scottish citizen, and participate in Scottish life, then you will be welcome.
As to bitterness, what bitterness? Is it bitter to want your country to regain its independence from a foreign power? Is it bitter to want to keep your country’s money and resources for the exclusive use of your country’s people? It may be somewhat bitter, but not in the slightest unreasonable, to object to your country’s money and resources being plundered to subsidize a foreign country whilst leaving your own country begging for crumbs from the table of the plunderers.
Incidentally Paul, the “National Socialists” were the Nazi Party. You implying that the SNP government are Nazis is both foolish and insulting. As I stated in an earlier comment we, the Scottish people, are fed up getting abused and insulted by foreigners.
It’s bull***t bingo! There is something called ‘Godwin’s Law’ which states that in an unmoderated (or lightly moderated) discussion, that eventually one side will begin to pray in aid the Nazis, or suggest the protagonists of the discussion as Nazi’s in disguise, then all is lost. I’m outta here…
Guga buy a dictionary
Sectarian – bigoted or narrow minded in following the doctrines of ones sect. Bigot
or try a Thesaurus
Sectarian – clannish, partisan, parochial, fanatical, prejudiced, extremist – just an example all equally apply to your vitriol as published.
Religious sectarian behaviour is just one example of the application of the term. In your case your sectarian atitude is directed to the English as a nation and is callus in its inclusion all those people living in England such as 800,000 Scots who contribute to English society.
The SNP are both a Nationalist and a Socialist party fighting the left of centre politics of Scotland with a Union & Unionist Labour (Socialist) party. In the event of a Yes vote Scotland will -albeit the Nats have lost their previous once held republican agenda which at least I could respect, a Socialist State based on a value of Nationalism rather than a collective of adjacent island nations.
You are losing the plot as they say if some near 70 years after the destruction of such an evil empire that two words put in close proximity can be so misconstrude by you in such a manner. Your agruments now have become in addition to sectarian down right insulting.
I doubt if any of your vitriol will gain any yes supporters and suggest that in the interests of the Yes community you either moderate your opinions or simply shut up
I want an independent Scotland built on inclusiveness not bitterness. Guga and his colleagues use offensive and abusive language and are driving me away from the yes camp. Not quite yet, but it is death by a 1000 cuts.
I’m very close to abstaining, but the next 18 months will sway my mind. I need persuading from a starting point of support, and that says something about the quality of the Yes Campaign.
Paul works hard for his community, but all he gets is abuse from the SNP, because he is not local, which is disgraceful.
BTW: MacNeil and Allan are the best argument for a No vote, but I try to look past them.
Paul, people like you are hypocrites. I would bet that you supported the Falkland Islanders in their vote to remain an English colony, and that you consider it their right to express their opinion in a vote. However, by your definition, these same islanders are “Sectarian – clannish, partisan, parochial, fanatical, prejudiced, extremist”.
It is possible that you, like many if not most of your fellow countrymen, wish to get out of the EUSSR, and would support a referendum on the matter. By your definition, again, that would make the majority of the English “Sectarian – clannish, partisan, parochial, fanatical, prejudiced, extremist”.
As for what happened 70 years ago, or even 300 hundred years ago, such matters are still relevant. In the words of Marcus Tulius Cicero, “To remain ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child”. Also George Santayana, who said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
The point also remains, that wanting to regain our freedom, and escape the shackles of domination, exploitation and abuse by a foreign power is quite normal and rational for any people. Those who try to keep other people subservient are the ones who have lost the plot.
Oh My Guga has the gall to call me a hypocrite from his hidden persona behind a soubriquet. I I am at least prepared to put my name to any comments I make – you ,Guga?
Now he gives me a history lecture. Well I like history so lets discuss your comment.
European Union and membership. I am old enough to have voted Yes in 1975 to the referendum on membership of a Common Market as it was as a Free Trade zone. Some where along the line over the next 38 years a Common Market became a superstate ruled by a bureacracy in Brussels into which vast sums of our cash is poured into its furnance of self administration. I dont recall any where in the past 38 years that we the public were asked our opinion. And, thank God, that only a bickering row between Brown and Blair prevented us from being a member of the now failing Euro or we would really be up s**t creek.
The fact is that to recover its financial union in the Euro the European Countries have to make closer Union now of both fiscal and financial organisations which is even more detremental to soverign or National Parliaments. It may come as a suprise to you but whilst you may be independant of the cursed English your immediately fall under the control of an even more centralist European Parliament. At least the UK Parliament currently stands to retain its ability to stand up to Brussels. I still favour a co-operative of soveriegn nations but certainly not dictat by bureacrats. With our own currency – which Scotland must surrender if it is to be really independent of the English or is it semi Independence with an English pound?
As usual your sectarian views mar the comment on the Falkland islands – it is a British Overseas Territory created by self determination not an English Colony as described by yourself. In deed the make up of the original settlement there was a mix of Scots, Welsh and English most of whom like Hebrideans can trace their roots back through the centurys’ At the time of the settlement of the Falkland islands Argentina did not exist as a nation so it can hardly claim an adjacant one. Argentina was created many years later when the indiginous tribes were driven out by colonialists from Spain, Portugal and Italy. The few folk living on the Islands at the time of settlement however were more than happy to come under the care of Great Britain. I will tell you some thing else – I as a young Corporal in 1982 lost friends from my Squadron (20 Field Suadron RE) on the RFA Sir Tristram and proudly watched the Scots Guards battle their way up Tumbledown. Why ?so that the good folk of the Falklands were free to exercise their right to vote 3o years later on the human right of self determination. (Incidently despite the apparent loathling of GB by Argentina they forget defeat to Britain in 1982 hasten the end of an evil military dictatorship in that country.)
I like those Scots Guardsmen will be voting in September next. I am a great believer in referendum its the best way to determine public opinion. My only complaint with the independence vote is why have I had to wait so many years to make that vote and when will I be told what the post independence policies for day to day administration actually are? I need that info to select Yes/No.
Finally on the subject of South America I have to say that I find it just so so ironic given your continued vitriol against ‘colonialists’ and ‘the Union’; that you seem to overlook in your hatred of the Union it was brought about when Scottish colonialists near bankraupted Scotland with a failed colonial enterprise in Darien on the Istmus of Panama between 1695 and 1700. Pot kettle black.
Talking of history lessons, the Darien scheme was a disaster for Scotland, that is true, but it was brought about to a great degree by the actions of The English. The English invoked the help of some of their usual enemies, the Spanish, to help them undermine the Darien scheme and to bankrupt the Scottish investors. They also undermined Scotland with their Navigation Acts and their other attempts to subjugate Scotland.
The English then went on to bribe many members of the Scottish parliament, i.e. the titled and the landed gentry (we did not have universal suffrage at that point), with a handful of English gold. They then massed English troops on the border to threaten us with invasion. Those traitors and parcel of rogues, but not the Scottish people, voted for us to be subsumed by the English, and sold us down the river. You will be aware that this was against the will of the majority of the Scottish population, and resulted in riots all over Scotland.
You will also be aware that the English, ever since they crawled out of the swamps in Germany, have been trying to take over Scotland and subjugate us. They succeeded, finally, in 1707, by a combination of bribery, corruption and threat. This did not mean that the Scots should either like or accept being taken over by foreigners, nor that they should continue to be willing to be kept as a colony, to be pillaged at will by a foreign power.
The English attitude to Scotland, including the threat of force, continued even to modern times. You will recall, for example, that during the episode of the “Red Clydesiders”, they confined the Scottish troops to their barracks, and sent in 10,000 English troops, and tanks, to keep us in our “place”.
This attitude of lies and corruption even continued with the likes of the McCrone Report, which they kept secret for thirty years, as they didn’t want the Scots to know just how much money they were stealing from us.
This bully-boy attitude, lying and corruption continues to the present day, with the English determined to keep the Scots down, to keep us subjugated, and to continue their pillaging of our money and resources.
Incidentally, something that you and your fellow countrymen are generally unaware of is that whilst the English parliament may be sovereign in England, under Scottish law the people are sovereign in Scotland.
Finally, you fail to appreciate that after we regain our independence, we will have to vote for a new Scottish parliament. Not all of us are willing or likely to vote for any political party that wishes to keep Scotland subjugated, this time to the EUSSR.
Perhaps, someone can help me here – does anyone know of any country that went Independent that was a success? There are several, but they are all struggling and their economies are in a mess, not due to the present crisis. They were in a mess before and are still in a mess now.
Nationalism by its very nature inward -looking, isolationist and seldom if ever works.
Alex Salmon is fanactical Scot, but too wise to be truly Nationistic wholeheartedly, for he knows, and I have demonstrated that to him and SNP ministers that it simply does not add up and does not work.
Don’t let anyone, especially young people get hot under the collar, about voting at 16 in this referendum. Alex Salmon is exploiting you. Realize it, and steer clear of his and the SNPs agenda for Scotland. Truth is, the agenda of SNP is a bright futue, secure, employment well off – just empty rhetoric.
Get down to specifics with the SNP, not allowing them all the wriggle room they want to bypass important questions. For if they cannot answer important quesions head on, with facts and figures, they would be a Party full of aspirations and nothing else, and would not be a Party worthy of the Scottish vote.
Say, perchance Alex Salmon and is Party did secure Indepence for Scotland in the forth-coming referendum – What then? Do you think his ideology will work? That is all the SNP have, an ideology. Now, let this sink in and I am done. Do you know what an ideology really is?
An Ideology, is a set of ideas by one or more people, projected into the future, and guess what, -never met!