Alex Salmond will publish his much anticipated consultation on the Scottish independence referendum today.
The First Minister will outline his proposals for the crunch constitutional vote planned for autumn 2014 in the Scottish Parliament this afternoon.
The statement follows weeks of speculation and angry debate over the form of the ballot, which has been described as the biggest decision Scots will make in 300 years.
The publication of the consultation will again cast the Scottish constitutional question into the international media spotlight, with newspapers and broadcasters from around the world expected to attend a press conference in Edinburgh Castle.
Mr Salmond told an audience in London on Tuesday evening that an independent Scotland would champion the welfare state and health service and be a ”beacon of progressive opinion” for those in England.
In his first major speech since the referendum debate ignited two weeks ago, he cited free university tuition, free prescriptions and the smoking ban as example’s of Scotland’s approach.
He added: ”That is a far more positive and practical Scottish contribution to progressive policy than sending a tribute of Labour MPs to Westminster to have the occasional turn at the Westminster tiller particularly as the opposition’s policy is increasingly converging with that of the coalition on the key issues of the economy and public spending.”
But Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said Mr Salmond should implement progressive ideals in Scotland. ”The future of the United Kingdom is about more than David Cameron versus Alex Salmond and conservatism versus nationalism.”
The proposed referendum has been a source of conflict between the Scottish and UK governments, with Westminster insisting any attempt to co-ordinate the poll from Edinburgh would be illegal.
However, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has offered to transfer the power to the Scottish Parliament if certain conditions are met.
Today’s statement will give more detail on the SNP’s preferred vision for the referendum, including details on when it will be held, how many questions there will be and who will be allowed to vote.
The Courier revealed last week that the consultation document will include a proposal for the ballot to be held on a Saturday in a bid to increase voter turnout. It is understood a date for the vote will not be revealed until actual legislation is lodged with the Scottish Parliament.
Today’s document is also expected to confirm the SNP administration’s preference for a single vote on independence, but willingness to include a further question on the possibility of further devolution.
Hotly debated topics such as the voting age and whether or not the electoral commission should oversee the arrangements will also be addressed.
Mr Moore will meet Mr Salmond on Friday to discuss the referendum. He said: ”The Scottish Government have shed more light on their referendum plans in the past two weeks then they did in the previous two years.”