Salmond wants Scottish referendum in 2014

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said Tuesday his government plans to hold a referendum on independence in less than three years. Salmond rejected the argument from British Prime Minister David Cameron that the referendum must be done with the approval of the British government, The Guardian reported. Salmond said he would accept an offer of legal authority to hold the vote in fall 2014 only if it comes without strings. Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg argue for an up-or-down vote on independence, which would likely turn into a vote to keep the status quo. Salmond wants a multiple-choice vote including an option giving the Scottish government greater powers than it currently has. "This has to be a referendum which is built in Scotland, which is made in Scotland and goes through the Scottish parliament," Salmond said. "If the Westminster government sticks to that, we won't have too many fights about it." A cross-party group of Scottish leaders from unions, non-profit organizations, business and the church are forming a coalition to push for the "devolution-plus" choice, The Guardian said.