Scottish independence: UK 'could delay independence date'

16 May 2014 Last updated at 10:21

... The Scottish government has proposed 24 March 2016 as a realistic date for Scotland's independence day, which would allow about 18 months for negotiations to be concluded if there is a "Yes" vote in the referendum on 18 September.

Under that timetable, elections scheduled for 5 May 2016 would be the first to an independent Scottish parliament.

But Labour peer Baroness Jay of Paddington, who chairs the constitution committee, urged the UK government to "put the rest of the UK's interest first" in the event of independence negotiations.

She said: "The prime minister should feel under no obligation to conclude negotiations by March 2016 ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27424993