BBC Learning English
Words in the News
Scottish independence referendum

26th January 2012

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2012

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bbclearningenglish.com

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has set out his plans for a referendum on Scottish
independence. The Westminster government has its own ideas on how the referendum
should be held and has already published its own consultation document. The BBC's
Scotland Correspondent Colin Blane reports:

Alex Salmond's statement to the Scottish Parliament is the latest stage in the
manoeuvring between Westminster and Edinburgh for control of the referendum
process. Mr Salmond wants a simple question on independence but he'd also like the
possibility of another question about further powers for the Scottish Parliament short of
full separation. And he's expected to restate the SNP's argument that 16 and 17 year-
olds should be allowed to vote.

There are signs that the Scottish government may be willing to negotiate to reach
agreement with Westminster to make sure the referendum is legal. The two sides are to
hold talks on the details of the ballot. It looks as if Mr Salmond won't object to the
process being supervised by the UK electoral commission.

BBC Scotland Correpondent, Colin Blane

Words in the News

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2012

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bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

statement

official announcement

manoeuvring

skilful and careful movement

the referendum process

the series of things that need to be done to carry out
a vote on the issue

independence

freedom of control from another country

short of

one step before

restate

say again to express strongly

negotiate

formally discuss

to reach agreement

to come to an arrangement that both sides have the
same opinion on

ballot

system of voting

supervised

checked that everything is done correctly

More on this story:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-16702392

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/01/120126_witn_scotland.shtml