Consultation paper sets out detailed timeline, proposes referendum question and suggests campaign spending limits
Alex Salmond has claimed that Scotland's first independent parliament in more than 300 years could be elected in May 2016 if he wins his referendum on breaking up the United Kingdom.
In a Scottish government consultation paper published on Wednesday, the first minister said the referendum in the autumn of 2014 would ask a simple question of Scotland's 4 million voters: "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?"
The paper predicts the referendum would cost about �10m to stage, and sets spending limits for the yes and no campaigns, the major parties and other groups, which could see campaign spending reach more than �3.5m.
It sets up a conflict with the UK government and the Electoral Commission over control of the question or questions posed at the referendum.
After confirming that he would like a "devolution max" question added to the referendum, Salmond conceded on one of David Cameron's main criticisms by agreeing to allow the UK Electoral Commission to run the referendum.
But the consultation excludes the commission from setting or authorising the questions, a key demand of the UK government and the Labour party, leaving Salmond open to accusations of attempting to gerrymander the vote.
In the UK-wide AV referendum last year, the initial pro-AV question proposed by Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, was rejected by the commission because of potential bias.
Margaret Curran, the shadow secretary of state for Scotland, said: "Alex Salmond's proposal to strip the Electoral Commission of its legal responsibility to examine the question is highly suspicious and simply not acceptable. It is completely wrong to agree to have a neutral referee but then stop it doing its most important job. Watering down the role of the watchdog is simply not democratic."
In a detailed timeline, the Scottish consultation claims that a bill authorising the referendum would be introduced to Holyrood in early 2013 and approved by Holyrood in October, to gain royal assent in November 2013, less than a year before the expected date of the referendum.
In a statement to Holyrood, Salmond said: "Independence matters because without it we do not have the powers to reach our potential. We are limited in what we can do to create jobs, grow our economy and help the vulnerable. To achieve this we shouldn't have a constitution that restrains us, but one which frees us to build a better society.
"Under independence, Scotland would take its place as a responsible member of the international community while continuing as a friend and good neighbour to the other nations of these islands, continuing the strong social union which will always bind us together. It is our future and our choice."
Johann Lamont, the Scottish Labour leader, warned Salmond that the conduct of the referendum could be severely marred if he continued to attack anyone who criticised his view of Scotland's future.
"We must recognise that we all love our country whatever constitutional settlement we support," she said "But the most important thing is that whichever side wins this referendum, it, and the process to it, is conducted in such a way that the day after it all Scots can come together to fulfil our national duty to make Scotland all it can be.
"For all the poetry and the pomp, this, his fourth crack at a consultation paper, is one of political calculations and assertions."
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, said he wanted guarantees that if devolution got higher support than independence in a two-question referendum, Salmond would honour that result and opt for greater devolution.
"Whilst independence dominates the work of his government, our country is gripped by unemployment and rising costs," he said. "I, as a Liberal Democrat, want home rule within the UK family, sharing the risks and rewards in a turbulent world. But the first minister must be clear. Can he guarantee that if 'devo max' got 99% of the vote, his government would honour the democratic wishes of the Scottish people? This issue has not been addressed in his consultation document."
Patrick Harvie, leader of the pro-independence Scottish Green party, said: "Our hope is that the debate over independence will spark a new enthusiasm for people taking control over the future of our country and our communities."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/25/alex-salmond-may-2016-independent
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