Scotland schedules vote on independence in 2014 fall
LONDON - The Associated Press
Scotland’s leader has presented his proposal for a ballot on independence to be hold in the fall of 2014 in a vote that could see the breakup of Britain within four years.First Minister Alex Salmond announced the Scottish government’s preferred options for the vote on whether to sever ties from Britain, which it plans to hold in the fall of 2014. A “yes” vote would lead to independence taking effect with a May 2016 election for the Scottish Parliament. Scotland and England united in 1707 to form Great Britain. Scotland gained significant autonomy after voting in 1997 to set up the Edinburgh-based Scottish Parliament. Salmond said Jan. 25 that the ballot would ask “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?” But Salmond has said he wants to add a third option of more Scottish autonomy, short of full independence. The exact wording is subject to negotiations with the British government, which insists it has the final authority to authorize a binding referendum. Meanwhile, Salmond said the voting age should be lowered allowing 16-year-old to cast ballots.
