13/02/2012

'Modest Progress' Emerges Out Of Moore Salmond Talks

Modest progress has been made in regard to Scotland’s call for an independence referendum, so says Scotland’s First Minister.

FM Alex Salmond and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said that they have made advancement, albeit modest, during independence referendum talks.

The pair met in Edinburgh to try to iron out the differences between the Scottish and Westminster governments over how the vote should be run.

Mr Moore said there was still disagreement over the issue of timing. Meanwhile the FM said there was still no agreement over the number of questions to be asked and whether 16 and 17 year-olds would be allowed to vote in the ballot.

Plans to hold an independence referendum in the autumn of 2014 were revealed by Scotland’s FM back in January.

The FM said this date would allow the Scottish people to make a 'considered' decision on Scotland's future within the United Kingdom and that the Scottish people faced 'their most important decision for 300 years'.

The UK government had previously said it wanted it to take place earlier.

Mr Salmond said he was due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday. Currently both governments are running separate public consultations on the referendum issue.

(LB)

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