Scotland: Independence Referendum Date Set

First Minister Alex Salmond has named the day for the historic ballot in Scotland to decide whether it should become independent.

Mr Salmond revealed in a statement at the Scottish Parliament that the vote will take place on Thursday, September 18, next year.

The Scottish National Party leader declared it would be an "historic day when the people will decide Scotland's future".

The referendum will ask the question approved by the Electoral Commission: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

Mr Salmond said: "Next year the choice facing the people is one of two futures. A No vote means a future of governments we didn't vote for, imposing cuts and policies we didn't support.

"A Yes vote means a future where we can be absolutely certain, 100% certain, that the people of Scotland will get the government they vote for."

Scotland's Labour leader Johann Lamont welcomed the naming of the date when the issue would be settled once and for all.

But she criticised Mr Salmond for letting Scotland "languish" for another 18 months.

"The truth is Alex Salmond knows if he held the referendum now, he wouldn't just lose it, he would be routed," she said.

She also called answers to key questions like what control the Bank of England would have over Scotland and what would happen if Scotland joined the EU.

Alistair Darling, the former Chancellor and MP for Edinburgh South West, told Sky News: "I think the majority of people in Scotland can see that we are better and stronger as part of the United Kingdom.

"The truth is that all the countries in the United Kingdom have gained from each other - we are much more than the sum of our parts."

The date was confirmed as the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill was published.

Mr Salmond said it was "the most important legislation to be introduced" since the devolved Scottish Parliament was established in 1999.

The vote is taking place after the Scottish National Party won an unprecedented majority in Holyrood in the 2011 election.

Negotiations with the UK Government followed, before the First Minister and Prime Minister David Cameron signed a deal on the ballot last October.

The Scottish Government has already brought forward separate legislation which will allow 16 and 17-year-olds to take part in the vote.

Mr Salmond stressed that the referendum will "meet the highest international standards of fairness and transparency".

The Referendum Bill formally allows for elections watchdog the Electoral Commission to have overall responsibility for overseeing the vote.

About the date, Mr Salmond told Sky News: "We had to stay clear of the great sporting events next year - the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.

"We had to steer clear of the school holidays because we wanted the maximum number of people to have the opportunity to vote.

"Also, we didn't want to do it too late after the clocks go back. So September 18 stood out as the best possible day."