The Edinburgh Agreement (full title: ''Agreement between the United Kingdom Government and the Scottish Government on a referendum on independence for Scotland'') is the agreement between the Scottish Government and the

United Kingdom Government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_est ...

, signed on 15 October 2012 at St Andrew's House,

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

, on the terms for the

2014 Scottish independence referendum A independence referendum, referendum on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom was held in Scotland on 18 September 2014. The referendum question was, "Should Scotland be an independent country?", which voters answered with "Yes" ...

.Text of the 'Edinburgh Agreement'
www.independent.co.uk, 15 October 2012 Both governments agreed that the referendum should: * have a clear legal base * be legislated for by the

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyr ...

* be conducted so as to command the confidence of parliaments, government and people * deliver a fair test and decisive expression of the views of people in Scotland and a result that everyone will respect The governments agreed to promote an

Order in Council An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in many countries, especially the Commonwealth realms. In the United Kingdom this legislation is formally made in the name of the monarch by and with the advice and consent of the Privy Council (''Kin ...

under

Section 30 In the United Kingdom, devolved matters are the areas of public policy where the Parliament of the United Kingdom has devolved its legislative power to the national assemblies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while reserved matters an ...

of the

Scotland Act 1998 The Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which legislated for the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament with tax varying powers and the Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive). It was o ...

to allow a single-question referendum on

Scottish independence Scottish independence ( gd, Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba; sco, Scots unthirldom) is the idea of Scotland as a sovereign state, independent from the United Kingdom, and refers to the political movement that is campaigning to bring it about. ...

to be held before the end of 2014 so to put beyond doubt that the Scottish Parliament can legislate for the referendum. The legislation that the Scottish Parliament set to work on was; * the date of the referendum * the vote itself * the wording of the question voters would be asked * rules surrounding campaign financing * various other rules for the conduction of the referendum In the agreement both governments agreed that the referendum should be overseen by an impartial electoral commission. The commission would comment on the wording of the question, register campaigners, designate lead campaigners, regulate campaign spending and finances, give grants to campaign organizations, create guidelines for participants in the referendum, report on the referendum process, conduct the poll, and announce the result. The agreement was signed by

David Cameron David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. He previously served as Leader o ...

, Prime Minister;

Michael Moore Michael Francis Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American filmmaker, author and left-wing activist. His works frequently address the topics of globalization and capitalism. Moore won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for ' ...

, Secretary of State for Scotland;

Alex Salmond Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond (; born 31 December 1954) is a Scottish politician and economist who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. A prominent figure on the Scottish nationalist movement, he has served as leader ...

, First Minister; and

Nicola Sturgeon Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon (born 19 July 1970) is a Scottish politician serving as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) since 2014. She is the first woman to hold either position. She has been a member of ...

, Deputy First Minister. Whether the document was legally binding in theory is a matter of academic discussion. In practice, an Order in Council was in fact approved on 12 February 2013,The Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2013
/ref> granting constitutional legitimacy to the referendum held on 18 September 2014.

References

External links

Scottish Government webpage on Edinburgh Agreement

Historic 'Edinburgh Agreement' on referendum signed
– Scottish Government press release
David Cameron signs historic deal granting Scottish referendum
– Prime Minister's Office press release
Text of Edinburgh Agreement
{{2014 Scottish independence referendum 2012 in British politics 2012 in Scotland Constitution of the United Kingdom Scottish devolution Government of the United Kingdom 2010s in Edinburgh Referendums in Scotland Scottish Government Scottish independence Politics of Edinburgh Orders in Council Scots administrative law 2014 Scottish independence referendum 2012 in British law October 2012 events in the United Kingdom

See also

References

External links