Scottish independence: Scots likely to vote in 2014
Scotland is one step closer to voting on independence from the United Kingdom, after British Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond met to approve a plan for a referendum.
Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond holds a copy of the agreement on a referendum on independence for Scotland, during a news conference at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh, Scotland Monday.
David Moir/Reuters
Edinburgh, Scotland
Scotland moved a step closer Monday to a vote on independence after Scottish and British leaders signed a deal laying the groundwork for a popular referendum that could radically alter the shape of the United Kingdom.
Officials from London and Edinburgh have been meeting for weeks to hammer out the details. Sticking points included the date and the wording of the question.
On Monday, British Prime Minister David Cameron met with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in Edinburgh to approve the deal. No date was set, but the vote is likely to be held in October 2014, as Salmond's nationalists had wished.
The "Edinburgh Agreement" means that the Scottish Government can now propose legislation on the precise wording of the question, the exact date, extending the vote to 16 year olds, finance rules and conduct.
