Independence for Scotland: a few wee questions

SCOTLAND is to hold a referendum on independence. First Minister Alex Salmond announced yesterday that it would happen in autumn 2014. This followed David Cameron’s insistence that it is for Westminster to decide on the date - and that it should be within the next 18 months.

Lib Dem Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore says he is happy to "sort out" any legal issues between Westminster and Holyrood. Alternatively, the matter might have to go to the Supreme Court.

Do Scots want independence?
Only 32 per cent of Scots want independence, according to last year's Scottish Social Attitudes survey. However, support rises to two-thirds if voters believed it would make them £500-a-year better off.

Why does Alex Salmond want to delay a vote?
Officially, the Scottish National Party leader believes the decision is too important to rush and therefore wants to wait until the end of 2014. However Salmond needs time to increase support for independence and ensure victory. He also hopes a wave of patriotism fuelled by the 700th anniversary in 2014 of the Battle of Bannockburn - a decisive victory in the wars between Scotland and England of the Middle Ages - will help his campaign.

Why does David Cameron want an early vote?
The Conservatives want to hold the United Kingdom together and believe uncertainty over whether Scotland will become independent is harming business there. They want a referendum within the next 18 months - a timescale unionists hope will not allow the SNP enough time to increase the pro-independence vote.

What question will be asked at the referendum?
David Cameron and the unionists want the referendum to be a straight choice between independence and the status quo. However there is a serious possibility that voters will be given a third option: 'devo max' (see below).

While Salmond desperately wants full independence, offering ‘devo max’ might prove a shrewd move if it looks like he will lose a referendum. Unionists fear such a choice could split the anti-independence vote and deliver victory to the independence lobby.

What is 'devo max'?
'Devolution max' would give Scotland almost complete financial independence but stop short of a formal separation from the UK. This scenario would see Scottish taxes set by Holyrood with Westminster responsible only for defence and foreign policy. A poll by TNS-BMRB for the BBC in November found that 33 per cent of Scottish voters favour this option.

Who will vote in the referendum?
Alex Salmond wants any Scottish resident aged 16 or over to able to vote in the referendum. David Cameron wants to stay with the electoral role - in other words, 18-year-olds and above.

What are the big issues?
As The Week columnist Richard Ehrman points out, the referendum campaign raises several key questions:
How will Scotland fund itself?
Who will get valuable assets such as North Sea oil and gas?
How would the UK's debts be divided up - particularly those of the bailed-out bank RBS?
Would Scotland keep the pound, have its own currency or join the euro?
Would Scotland have its own armed forces?
Which country would Scots living elsewhere be citizens of?
Will the Queen remain head of state?

Some are even asking whether Northern Ireland, which culturally has more in common with Scotland than the rest of the UK, might go with Salmond. ·