Scotland’s longest-serving First Minister has urged the UK and Scottish governments to ”compromise” and hold the independence referendum within 18 months.
Lord Jack McConnell called on Alex Salmond and David Cameron to ”put Scotland’s national interest first” and end the uncertainty over the historic ballot.
He spoke after publishing his response to the UK Government consultation on the referendum, which closed last week and has seen a range of high-profile organisations and public figures weigh in.
The UK and Scottish governments are at loggerheads over when the referendum will be held, who will be allowed to vote and whether it should include a second question on more devolution.
But Lord McConnell said a ”strong compromise position” could be reached by the two administrations.
”I believe that compromise would be welcomed by the people of Scotland,” he said. ”That, and my belief that the time is now right for a clear and final decision between the constitutional options of an independent Scotland or a devolved Scotland within the UK, lead me to believe that both the UK and the Scottish governments must compromise and deliver the referendum that ordinary Scots deserve.”
However, he largely backed the position of the UK Government by insisting the poll should take place by September 2013 using the existing franchise.
The Scottish Government want to hold the referendum in autumn 2014 and extend the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds a move opposed by unionist parties.
But the nationalist plans have won the backing of the Public and Commercial Services Union.
Scottish secretary Lynn Henderson said: ”Our union positively embraces the democratic right for the people of Scotland, including 16-18-year-olds to have their say on Scotland’s future.”
Ms Henderson added that the union, which represents 30,000 civil servants, also backed the autumn 2014 date.
Several other influential union bodies, including Unison and the STUC, have already backed Mr Salmond’s plans.
But the Church of Scotland submission said the debate should focus on whether changing the constitution would tackle problems such as poverty and ill heath.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh’s response to the consultation said the SNP’s timescale is ”persuasive”.