The first minister resisted the invitation from Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson to reveal the date for the 2014 independence referendum, but it won't be long to wait
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Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond launches plans for consultation for a referendum on Scottish independence in the Great Hall of Edinburgh castle. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images
Alex Salmond has confirmed that the precise date for Scotland's independence referendum in the autumn 2014 will be revealed in March, when his government publishes its referendum bill.
This timetable has been alluded to before, but after yesterday's cross-party consensus on the exact question and campaign funding, the day of the poll remained the biggest unknown.
Prompted by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson at First Minister's questions, Salmond resisted - without much difficulty - her invitation to set it out there and then, stating:
That will be introduced to the parliament in the bill that comes to the parliament in March, and I'm sure that's what Ruth Davidson would fully expect to happen.
Salmond seems then to have ended speculation he would want to keep that date flexible for as long as possible to maximise his options.
Could it be the first poll in the UK staged on a Saturday? It was Saturday October 18 floated by Salmond's spin-doctors as being "lined up" in the launch edition of the Sun on Sunday in February last year - an event Davidson goaded him over at first minister's questions.
It is broadly popular, as the Scottish government's consultation (which also floated staging the referendum over two days – another potentially radical departure, and using supermarkets as polling stations) found last year.
It reported:
8,994 respondents made a comment specifically about the proposal to hold the referendum on a Saturday. An analysis of these comments indicated that 46% broadly agreed with holding the referendum on a Saturday and 32% did not; the remaining respondents had mixed or unclear views.
But it now seems unlikely, if only because the relative ambivalence of those who supported it, and the problems it poses.
A Saturday – while potentially popular with some voters who work long hours during the week – has its other drawbacks: the count officials, police and elections staff will be working on a Saturday night or a Sunday, and will need to be paid.
It has raises real religious problems too: choosing a Saturday would preclude on-the-day voting by observant Jews; counting votes on a Sunday would cause great difficulties for the Sabbath-observing Western Isles.
The Electoral Commission listed others: difficulties with childcare at the weekends and difficulties for voters who needed carer assistance to reach polling stations.
It said last March:
While we do not oppose the proposal that Saturday should be used as a polling day for the referendum, we reiterate here our view that a number of challenges must be fully considered before any final decision is taken.