Scottish independence referendum date:September 18

The countdown to the independence referendum was kick-started by First Minister Alex Salmond when he revealed the date at the Scottish Parliament.

The date for the vote, which is earlier than many had predicted, was contained in the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill formally lodged at Holyrood by Mr Salmond. It leaves 546 days for the campaigns to make their respective cases.

Mr Salmond claimed the 146-page document was “the most important legislation to have been introduced since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened – not in itself, but what it enables Scotland to achieve with the powers of an independent country”.

The First Minister said the referendum “will be the truly historic day for our nation – the day when the people will decide Scotland’s future”.

But Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said: “If the hand of history is on the First Minister’s shoulder, I wish it would give him a shove and he’d get on with it.”

The bill confirmed the question on the ballot paper will be: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” It also confirmed the Electoral Commission will oversee the poll and the campaign spending limits.

Mr Salmond said he was “honoured” to announce the referendum date, which he described as part of a journey travelled by Scotland since “the restoration of our parliament here in the heart of our ancient capital”.

He went on: “I believe it will be the day we take responsibility for our country, when we are able to speak with our own voice, choose our own direction and contribute in our own distinct way; the day we stand up on our own two feet, but do not stand alone.”

The proposed legislation, which is expected to receive Royal Assent in December after passing through parliament, sets out how the referendum will work and lays down rules governing the conduct of the Yes and No campaigns.

The public will have to wait a further six months for the white paper that will outline how the SNP government envisages independence working.

Some sources had suggested the Scottish Government would go for date in October next year for the referendum. Instead, it will take place before the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Perthshire, one of the events that commentators had assumed would be used to build up a feel-good factor in the run-up to the poll.

Crucially, it will take place before the conferences of the main UK political parties – events that would have been used to argue unashamedly for the Union had the vote been in October.

As expected, the referendum will be after the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which take place in the summer, and after June’s re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Scotland’s victory over England.

A policy paper issued with the draft legislation set out the spending limits for the main organisations for and against independence at £1.5 million.

The limit is consistent with that recommended by the Electoral Commission, as are those for the Holyrood parties, which are allowed to spend between £150,000 and £1.3 million –the lower sum being the Scottish Greens’ maximum and the higher one the SNP’s. Other permitted participants – individuals or organisations accepted by the Electoral Commission – will be able to spend £150,000.

The referendum will be preceded by a 16-week formal campaigning period, beginning at the end of May, during which the spending limits will apply.

The Scottish Government’s plans to extend the voting franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds will be brought forward in separate legislation.