Leader: Knowledge is power when it comes to independence vote

THE debate over the details of the independence referendum could be characterised in Rumsfeldian terms: there are known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns – a situation which can only lead to confusion among the Scottish electorate who are to be asked if they wish to remain part of the United Kingdom.

It is, therefore, time for some clarity and we can only achieve this if the Nationalist government in Edinburgh and the unionist coalition at Westminster – and not just the Tories and Liberal Democrats in government but the Labour opposition too – begin an adult, mature and reasoned dialogue to arrive at a fair way to test Scottish opinion on the matter.

After all the brinkmanship and the oneupmanship of the last few days there were signs last night that both sides of this most fundamental of arguments were beginning to come to their senses. Tentative though the signals were, they suggested we might be witnessing the emergence of a sensible compromise.

Of the known knowns, a red line issue for Westminster is that there should be a single question on whether Scotland remains within the Union. Although the SNP administration may put forward a maximum devolution option, the party has said it would prefer a straight question. An agreement on this would be a step forward.

For the SNP, the timescale is the red line. They believe autumn 2014 is logical, though they must also calculate privately they may be boosted by a post-Commonwealth Games patriotism and that they get nearly three years to build support for their dream. The UK government has not conceded this yet, but the signs are they may do so. Another step forward.

There is then the role of the UK Electoral Commission in overseeing the plebiscite. The former is a coalition red line, but as the Commission has former SNP presiding officer George Reid on it, and already has a Scottish office, there seems scope for agreement, possibly with additional Scottish input. A further step. On the extension of voting to 16- and 17-year-olds, an SNP demand, there are discussions, though this is not a make-or-break issue.

However, if there are agreements in these areas, that still leaves the known unknowns, something the Commission will be charged with addressing. How will the question be framed? With a “yes” vote for independence or for the Union? Might there be: a) the Union or b) independence? What will be the spending limits for campaigns? Who is eligible to vote? With careful consideration and consultation these unknowns will be known come the referendum itself.

Which leaves the unknown unknowns, centring on the vast range of issues the SNP must address, from an independent Scotland’s currency to membership of the EU and Nato. They must become known before the referendum – maybe not this month or this year, but they cannot be ignored.