More than 19,000 responses received to independence referendum plan

Vote: The consultation will include submissions on the possible 'Devo Max' and 'Devo Plus' alternatives to independence.

The Scottish Government has received more than 19,000 responses to its consultation on the referendum that could end the 300-year union with England and Wales.

Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has called for further talks with First Minister Alex Salmond once the responses have been considered to ensure the poll is "legal, fair and decisive".

Mr Moore did not touch on any of the areas of disagreement between the two governments - such as the date of the poll and whether 16 and 17-year-olds should be given the vote - but said he was "confident" London and Edinburgh could forge an agreement.

The UK Government has offered to give the Scottish Parliament the legal power to hold a referendum, but David Cameron wants the poll to be held earlier than Alex Salmond's preferred date of autumn 2014. The Scottish Government says it will only accept the legal power if it comes with no strings attached.

The consultation is also expected to flesh out the proposed "Devo Max" or "Devo Plus" alternatives to full independence which the Scottish Government says it is prepared to consider including on the ballot paper.

Reform Scotland, which supports a "Devo Plus" option under which the Scottish Parliament would raise most of the money it spends, said Scotland needed to maintain a healthy relationship with the rest of the UK while reducing its dependence on block grants.

It also said the Devolution Plus option could be included either as an extra choice in a one-question referendum, or form a second referendum after the question of independence had been decided. Alternatively, Devolution Plus could be adopted by the Unionist parties and form the basis of the 'no' campaign.

'Best option'

A spokesman said: "We believe that, far from being a compromise, Devolution Plus is Scotland’s best option.

"It is an enduring solution to the constitutional problem because it is based on a clear philosophy which everyone can understand and to which everyone can sign up regardless of political ideology–that each level of government should broadly be responsible for raising the revenues to cover its own expenditure."

Jeremy Purvis, the former Liberal Democrat MSP who heads the Devo Plus group, said increasing Holyrood's tax-raising powers would strengthen both the Scottish Parliament and the Union.

He said: "Our report shows how a process of reform can be underway to make the Parliament responsible for raising the majority of what it spends.

"It also shows how a straightforward division between categories of taxes that are wholly within the responsibility of Holyrood, those that are shared and those that are wholly reserved can operate.

"We believe this process of reform going forward should be the focus now of the political parties that do not support independence.”

Bruce Crawford, the Scottish Government's strategy secretary, said the response to the consultation had been "fantastic".

He said: "Today is the final day of the consultation so there is still time for people to join the over 19,000 who have responded so far and have their say on Scotland's referendum.

"The key principle which the UK Government must accept is that the terms and the timing of the referendum have to be decided in Scotland, by the Scottish Parliament. As we have always said, we have no objection to Westminster extending a 'Section 30' power to the Scottish Parliament in relation to the referendum, but it must be on the basis of no strings being attached."

More About Referendum

Related articles

People who read this story also read