Q&A: The battle for BritainIt accepts the question of independence has to be put to Scots. But it is adamant the ballot should happen as soon as possible and only contain a simple Yes/No question. Initially Downing Street suggested it should happen within 18 months, although it withdrew the explicit deadline. But its preference remains for a 2013 referendum.
Q. What does Alex Salmond want?
He has set autumn 2014 for the poll and wants it to contain three choices: no change, full independence and greater devolution within the UK.
Q. Who decides what happens?
This is the crux of the controversy, threatening the UK with its gravest constitutional crisis for nearly a century. The UK Government asserts Holyrood is banned, under the 1998 Scotland Act, from passing any measure affecting the nation's constitutional status. Hence, it says, the result of such a poll would not be legally binding.
Q. How does the SNP respond?
It says the referendum's timing and content has to be fixed in Edinburgh and Salmond says there is "plenty of legal authority" to support his administration's plans to stage its own ballot.
Q. What happens next?
The UK Government is ready to give permission for a ballot if it takes place within a certain time and is limited to a Yes/No question. It has started a consultation.
Q. What if Salmond presses ahead anyway?
If Scotland backed independence, the result would inevitably be challenged – and the legal battle could go to the UK Supreme Court, based in London. Equally Salmond would claim moral victory – and it would be hard for London to ignore Scotland's will.
In The Independent
David Cameron estica a corda e brinca com o fogo, apesar de considerar controlado - e sabe que neste momento o referendo chumba a independência. Alex Salmond faz birras e só considera válido o que o seu Governo escocês decidir - só o quer em 2014, quando se assinalam importates momentos para a identidade escocesa.
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