David Cameron (R)
shakes hands with the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond (Reuters / Toby
Melville)
Source: Russia Today
http://rt.com/news/scotland-independence-referendum-cameron-453/
UK Prime Minister David Cameron is set to sign a historic
deal with Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond to hold a separation
referendum in 2014. The signing followed give-and-take negotiations over the
vote on whether Scotland will leave the UK.
Cameron and Salmond will finalize the agreement in
Edinburgh on Monday, launching a 100-week battle over the future of the United
Kingdom.
The 35-clause deal will greenlight Scots to vote on a
single, yes-or-no issue: Whether Scotland should leave the UK. Salmond’s
negotiator, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, shelved the possibility of a
second question on the ballot asking voters whether they would support partial
succession, with much greater powers for the Scottish parliament. Whitehall
insisted on an all-or-nothing referendum.
Michael Moore, Secretary of State for Scotland in the UK,
agreed to other points pursued by the Scottish National Party (SNP), which
dominates the Scottish government. These issues included allowing 16- and
17-year-olds to vote, and empowering the Scottish parliament to decide the
date, the question and the franchise of the referendum.
“We've compromised, as have the Westminster government in
these negotiations, but I'm very satisfied indeed that the outcome of these
negotiations is the guarantee of a referendum made in Scotland,” Sturgeon told BBC
One's Sunday Politics Scotland program.
"I think it's a good agreement. I believe it will
now allow us to put up in lights the big issues about the big debate… on what
is best for Scotland,” Moore told Sky News, adding that the referendum would be
“legal, fair and decisive.”
Proponents of independence will have to campaign hard to
swing public opinion in their favor: The latest poll by NS BMRB suggests that a
majority of Scotts, 53 percent, favor staying in the UK, while only 28 percent
want to separate.
The SNP’s call for separation from the UK comes amid
rising sentiment in Scotland that the country’s national interests are being
undermined by the government in London. Scotland joined with England and Wales
in 1707, and participated in the British monarchy before that.
While a majority of Scots want more powers for their own
government on issues like economy and defense, the prospect of full
independence is viewed more skeptically.
Even if it declares independence, Scotland will likely
retain Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch, as does Canada, Australia and other
members of the British Commonwealth.
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