UK NEWS

SALMOND NAMES THE DAY

Salmond will launch a Burns Day Bill

Sunday May 11,2008

By PAULA MURRAY

ALEX Salmond killed off any lingering hopes of an early referendum yesterday by announcing a timescale for his independence vote.

The First Minister will launch his Referendum (Scotland) Bill on Burns Day 2010, with a hope the nation can go to the polls in time for October the same year.

Ministers are already in discussions about the proposed legislation, which could only be passed with backing from at least one of the other opposition parties.

Mr Salmond said he expected it to be given royal assent in the summer of 2010 before a vote in the autumn.
I
t is not clear yet in which format the referendum would take place, or the wording of the question.

Nationalists say they are confident they can pass the Bill, particularly with an indication Scottish Labour might support it – though their position was muddled again by Wendy Alexander’s comments yesterday.

Mr Salmond will address Holy-rood on Wednesday on what he plans to do over the next 12 months in office.

It is expected he will raise the issue of independence during the Moving Scotland Forward statement.

He said yesterday: “The record of our first year in office demonstrates that this Government is working hard to strengthen our economy and our society.

“We are putting Scotland’s interests first, and showing progress across our five strategic objectives.

“We will continue to follow the course that we have set out – building the case that the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament are ready to take on greater responsibility for our country’s future, with majority support across the chamber for a referendum bill in 2010.”

According to the White Paper launched last year, the preferred ballot paper would simply ask: “I agree/disagree that the Scottish Government should negotiate
a settlement with the Government of the United Kingdom so that Scotland becomes an independent state.”

Senior insiders say Ms Alexander’s attempt to call the First Minister’s bluff had backfired, with the SNP now in a more commanding position.

A source close to the First Minister said the Scottish Labour leader’s behaviour had been like an “unexpected present” to mark the SNP’s first year in office.

He added: “We know exactly where we are going with this and we always have done.

“We have a winning plan that we will stick to and it will deliver a successful vote in the 2010 referendum.”

Angus Robertson, SNP business convener, later said: “The only conclusion that can be made is that Labour are not fit for opposition never mind government.

“We will deliver that successful plan – and a successful referendum result in 2010 – as opposed to the chaotic U-turns of Labour.”