Scotland to vote in 2014 on independence

16 Oct 2012, 9:34 am   -   Source: AAP

Britain's prime minister and Scotland's first minister have agreed to hold a referendum in 2014 on Scottish independence.

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Britain's prime minister and Scotland's first minister have agreed to hold a referendum in 2014 on Scottish independence that could lead to the United Kingdom breaking up after 300 years.

Prime Minister David Cameron and pro-independence First Minister Alex Salmond inked the deal and shook hands in cold autumn sunlight after a meeting at the Scottish government building, St Andrews House, in Edinburgh on Monday.

Cameron strongly opposes a Scottish breakaway, and the signing of the terms for the vote fires the starting gun on two years of campaigning which puts the leaders on opposing sides.

After months of negotiations, the deal clears the way for Scotland's administration to hold the vote in the last quarter of 2014, offering Scots a straight yes-no question on leaving the United Kingdom.

Securing the vote was a victory for veteran politician Salmond, who has spent his political career backing the idea of an independent Scotland, but he faces an uphill battle to bring a majority of Scots around to his view.

He told reporters after the signing: "I'm delighted to say that the Edinburgh agreement ... paves the way for the most important decision Scotland has made in several hundred years.

"I believe that independence will win this campaign. I believe we'll win it by setting out a better future for our country," he said.

His Scottish National Party (SNP), the majority party in Edinburgh's devolved parliament, must fight against a "No" campaign from all three big parties in the British parliament: Cameron's Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Labour.

Cameron said: "This is an important day for our United Kingdom, but you can't hold a country in the United Kingdom against the will of its people.

"Scotland voted for a party that wanted to hold a referendum. I believe in showing respect. This is the right outcome for Scotland and for the United Kingdom to give the people the choice.

"But I passionately hope and believe that they will vote to keep the United Kingdom together. We are better off together, we are stronger together, we are safer together."

A survey by ComRes for ITV News released on Monday showed 34 per cent of Scots and 29 per cent of Britons in favour while other polls have shown similar results.

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