Salmond sets out case for independence vote

By Ian MacKenzie

EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond published details on Monday of a planned referendum on Scottish independence, setting out the case for breaking the 300-year-old union with England.

Salmond, who heads the Scottish National Party (SNP), said only independence would deliver a "21st century partnership of equals between Scotland and England."

The White Paper, "Your Scotland, Your Voice," paves the way for a Referendum Bill early next year with a vote in about 12 months.

It sets out a broad range of options, including keeping the status quo of limited autonomy from Westminster, more devolutionary powers for Scotland, full devolution with greater fiscal autonomy while remaining part of the United Kingdom, and independence.

But his minority government faces an uphill struggle to push the bill through the Scottish Holyrood parliament as all the other main parties oppose it, saying the country needs to concentrate on economic recovery.

"The debate in Scottish politics is no longer between change or no change," Salmond said in a statement.

"It's about the kind of change we seek, and the right of the people to choose their future in a free and fair referendum."

He said Scotland, which has had devolved government for the past 10 years, needed more powers to tackle the recession.