Independence Referendum Agreement Signed

Dunfermline MSP Bill Walker has welcomed the signing of the “Edinburgh Agreement” between First Minister Alex Salmond and Prime Minister David Cameron. This agreement confirms the Scottish Parliament’s power to hold a referendum on whether Scotland should become an independent country.

Mr Walker said: “I am delighted an agreement has now been reached. This marks an important step in Scotland’s journey by paving the way for the substantial debate on the benefits of independence to begin.

“I hope this debate will be conducted in a positive way and that both sides will focus on how we can create a fairer, socially just, more prosperous Scotland. It is now time for the unionists opposed to independence to spell out the advantages of no change to Scotland’s current constitutional arrangement.

“I am particularly pleased that there will only be one Yes/No question on the ballot paper.  A second question on ‘devo max’ or similar would have muddied the waters. I also believe that the concept of independence is pretty easy to define – think of similar-sized Norway or Denmark.

“We are fortunate to be taking part in such a momentous decision. I look forward to the Scottish people delivering a powerful ‘Yes’ vote for a better Scotland in 2014.”