Scottish independence: Referendum deadline 'will be missed'

BBC NEWS

The Scottish and UK governments will miss Friday's election watchdog deadline to agree what will happen after the independence referendum.

The Electoral Commission asked both administrations to reach a joint position on the processes for after the vote, whatever the outcome.

Proposals put forward by the body, which set the rules for the referendum have been accepted by all sides.

The vote takes place on 18 September, 2014.

Voters in Scotland will be asked the yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

One of the commission's recommendations was for both the Westminster and Holyrood governments to work together to clarify what will happen after the referendum, whether the vote is "Yes" or "No".

The work of the watchdog, which said there was a public desire for that kind of factual information, was last week reviewed by the Scottish Secretary Alastair Carmichael and Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

They are expected to meet again in the New Year.

The Electoral Commissioner for Scotland, John McCormick, said his organisation asked for the joint agreement by 20 December, to coincide with the expectation that the Scottish government's Referendum Bill, setting out the terms of the vote, would become law when it gained Royal Assent.

He said: "Now that we have Royal Assent, we would like this clarity to be provided as soon as possible and we understand from both governments that progress is being made.

"In the interests of voters we would ask that every effort is made to reach agreement early in the New Year."

The UK government has said any agreement will not pre-negotiate the terms of independence.