The formal campaign for Scottish independence has been launched at a celebrity-endorsed event. Organisers of the Yes Scotland movement vowed to stage the "biggest community-based campaign in Scotland's history" in the run-up to the independence referendum which could take place in October 2014.

First Minister Alex Salmond, one of the key speakers at the launch in Edinburgh, said: "We unite behind a declaration of self-evident truth. The people who live in Scotland are best placed to make the decisions that affect Scotland. We want a Scotland that's greener, that's fairer and more prosperous. We realise that the power of an independent Scotland is necessary to achieve these great ends."

Holyrood should be given more powers short of independence, according to a new poll. The result means the most popular option is not likely to be on the ballot paper in the referendum in autumn 2014, which is expected to offer a straight Yes or No to independence.

Known by supporters as Devo Plus, not to be confused with the slightly stronger Devo Max, the proposal is designed to make Holyrood and Westminster accountable for what they spend in Scotland. It would see the transfer to Edinburgh of income and corporation tax, among other levies, as well as assigning a geographic share of Scotland's oil revenue.

The poll of 1003 people showed 41% prefer Devo Plus, with the status quo on 29% and independence on 27%. It also showed 61% think the Scottish Government should be raising most of the money available to the Scottish Parliament.

SCOTLAND would be thrown into legal limbo if voters are not given a straight referendum choice on independence or the status quo, Union supporters have warned ahead of their official campaign launch tomorrow. Writing in Scotland on Sunday today, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie says that a “two question” referendum – asking people both about independence and a more powerful Scottish Parliament – would end up in the courts, leaving judges to decide the future of the country.

His comments come with the “Better Together” campaign pressing for a deal with the SNP to ensure there is one straightforward question asking people in Scotland whether they want independence or not. However, SNP ministers say they will await the outcome of their consultation on the referendum, and have left open the prospect of a more complex vote in which questions on both independence and a more powerful Holyrood are put to people.

The debate on Scotland’s constitutional future has officially begun after the UK and Scottish governments agreed a framework for the referendum on independence. Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond met in Edinburgh to sign off on the deal, which paves the way for the Scottish Parliament to hold a plebiscite on whether Scotland should leave the Union. The details of the agreement are still emerging but it is understood that it will provide for a single-question referendum, the UK Government’s favoured approached, and allow 16 and 17 year olds to vote for the first time in the UK, a move that has been pushed by the SNP.

Speaking after signing the document, Mr Salmond said: “The Edinburgh Agreement, signed by the Scottish and UK governments today, marks a significant step in Scotland’s Home Rule journey. Importantly, it will ensure that the biggest decision the people of our country will make for many generations is made here in Scotland for the benefit of all of those that live and work here. This will be a referendum designed and delivered by the Scottish Parliament. Today’s accord marks agreement on the process and respect for the outcome, from both sides. In my view, it paves the way for a new partnership in these islands."

The Scottish Government's preferred question for the independence referendum will be tested by the elections watchdog. The SNP administration wants to ask: Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country? Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has submitted the question to the Electoral Commission, which will scrutinise it using focus groups to determine whether it is fair and easily understood, before reporting its findings.

Although the government and parliament is not bound by the watchdog's conclusions, constitutional experts say ignoring its advice would be unusual. The final wording will be included in the Referendum Bill which will come before the Scottish Parliament in spring 2013.

An all-party committee of MSPs has voted to back detailed plans to give the Scottish parliament the power to hold an independence referendum. The initiative was contained in the Edinburgh Agreement signed by the prime minister and the first minister.

Proposed powers include allowing MSPs to choose the question, set the date and also give the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds. It now goes to the full Scottish parliament for ratification. The scheme also requires endorsement at Westminster where it may face a tougher challenge, especially in the House of Lords.

Business leaders have urged the Scottish Government to speed up the publication of its blueprint for independence to provide "greater clarity and certainty" about the economic impact of leaving the UK. CBI Scotland director Iain McMillan said 2013 would be a crucial year for the debate over Scotland's future.

The business lobbying organisation has drawn up a list of questions covering areas such as the economy, defence jobs and taxation. It also called for more detail on issues such as the currency of an independent Scotland and its fiscal and economic position, as well as how long negotiations between London and Edinburgh would last.

SCOTLAND’S “indepedendence day” will come in March 2016 if Scots vote yes in next year’s referendum, Nicola Sturgeon announced today. The Deputy First Minister published a paper today which sets out the process of transition to an independent country if the Yes campaign triumphs in next year’s historic ballot.

The publication entitled ‘Scotland’s Future: from the referendum to independence and a written constitution’ outlines the steps required to establish a constitutional platform. This would give the first Scottish Government elected in May 2016 the powers to build a newly independent country. It comes just after elections watchdog the Electoral Commission called on both sides of the campaign to set out a clear post-referendum scenrio whether Scots vote yes or no.

Pro-union campaigners were celebrating last after students at one of Scotland’s biggest ­university voted “no” in a mock referendum on the prospect of leaving the UK. More than 2,500 students took part in the vote at Glasgow University yesterday which was held after series of lectures and debates staged at the institution in recent weeks on the prospect of Scotland becoming independent. The result was declared just after 8pm last night and saw 63 per cent rejecting independence, while 37 per cent wanted to leave the UK.

Carys Hughes, from Glasgow University’s pro-union ­Better Together, said: “We are really ­delighted with the win. Our campaign was led by the ­students and wasn’t consumed by party politics. We talked about the issues.” The event was seen as an indication of the way Scots will vote in the referendum in autumn next year, although the student population generally is seen as being more sympathetic to the Nationalist cause.

Proposals to lower the voting age to 16 in the independence referendum have been formally lodged with the Scottish Parliament. The Bill published on Tuesday sets out the franchise for the ballot, due in autumn next year. Politicians at Holyrood will determine the arrangements, as agreed in Edinburgh last year between Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Alex Salmond. The Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Bill is deemed necessary to ensure all eligible 16 year olds will be able to register in a canvass scheduled to run from the end of the year to next spring.

If passed, the Bill will give electoral registration officers a duty to collect information and compile regional registers. The data will not be published beyond a "limited group of people" and will be limited to legislation relating to the referendum. The wider franchise will be the same as for Scottish parliamentary or local government elections. It will be for British citizens, qualifying Commonwealth citizens, Irish and other EU citizens resident in Scotland. It also covers members of the House of Lords resident in Scotland and service personnel serving in the UK or overseas who are registered to vote in Scotland. The franchise is not being extended to convicted prisoners in jail. A separate Bill detailing the proposed single-question referendum will be brought forward later this month.

SCOTS will go to the polls in the historic vote to decide the nation’s future on Thursday, 18 September, 2014, it was announced. 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.