Scottish independence: ‘No decision yet’ on referendum date

THE SNP government has insisted no date has been finalised for the independence referendum, amid growing concerns thousands of Scots could be disenfranchised.

It was claimed at the weekend that 18 October, 2014 – a Saturday – had been selected by the Nationalists for the vote. But this would fall in the middle of Scottish schools’ autumn break.

A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday that the date was a “possibility” but that the decision “remains to be taken”. He added: “It will be taken and it will be announced to parliament in due course, but not until after the consultation has closed.”

Both Westminster and Holyrood are consulting on the staging of the referendum.

The First Minister’s spokesman said: “What will happen is that when a decision to hold a referendum is taken, it will be communicated to parliament in the proper way.”

He played down concerns that turnout could be affected if the vote was held during the schools’ October holiday.

He added: “Primarily, people’s holiday period is in the summer.”

The Scottish Government says it wants to avoid the referendum clashing with high-profile sporting events that summer, such as the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.

The October date was revealed in the launch edition of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Scottish Sun on Sunday newspaper.

However, the UK government’s Scotland Office described the move as a “panic measure” brought on by the increasing pressure to hold the poll in September 2013, by which time all the necessary legislation for it could be completed.