Salmond sets out case for independence vote

Salmond said he was flexible over the provisions and wording of a referendum, the only stipulation being that a vote of independence had to be included.

If the bill failed, he said the fight for independence would become a key issue in the next Scottish elections in 2011.

However, if the bill went through and the Scottish public voted against independence, he would accept that verdict, adding "a referendum is a once in a political generation event."

The SNP, which took power with a minority government in May 2007 narrowly defeating Labour, said polls consistently showed the Scots wanted more powers.

But a YouGov poll in the Daily Telegraph last week showed 57 percent of those who responded would say "no" to independence.

(Writing by Avril Ormsby; Editing by Steve Addison)