Britain:Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond is to reignite debate about the future of the UK with the launch of a White Paper tomorrow proposing a referendum on Scottish independence.
His Scottish National Party is calling for "a national conversation" on the constitutional issue after tomorrow's launch marking the party's first 100 days in power at Holyrood. At the same time he says he will "respectfully listen" to unionists who might be prepared to travel "at least some way down the road" in terms of seeking greater devolved powers.
As the leader of a minority administration, Mr Salmond accepts he has "a bit of work to do" to win a majority in the parliament to hold a referendum by 2010. With the backing of the Scottish Greens, Mr Salmond can claim about 50 of the 129 MSPs in favour of independence.
However, the Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell - who is tipped to announce his resignation shortly - dismissed the referendum as an unwanted waste of taxpayers' money. It would be wrong, he argued, to hold a vote on a question they "all know the answer to" as a result of majority backing for unionist parties in the May election.
Mr Salmond ousted Mr McConnell as first minister after the SNP emerged the largest party in the Holyrood parliament with one seat more than Labour. The Liberal Democrats declined Mr Salmond's powersharing offer after he refused to abandon his referendum commitment.
The pre-election speculation had been that the Lib Dems could accept a referendum that offered voters both independence and an alternative increase in the powers of the Scottish parliament but with Scotland remaining within the UK.
When the Lib Dems instead opted to return to the opposition benches it seemed a decisive blow to the SNP's plans.
However, Mr Salmond's minority administration has so far defied the expectations of its opponents, prospering rather than buckling under the pressures of office and seeming to set the political agenda. Mr Salmond still faces an uphill battle both to secure a referendum and to eventually win a popular vote for independence. The latest YouGov poll for the Daily Mailfound almost half those questioned back the nationalist party but only 31 per cent favour separation.
Despite the declared opposition of its leadership, there have been indications that some senior Scottish Conservatives might be tempted to back Mr Salmond's referendum move, thinking to kill off the independence issue and end uncertainty about Scotland's long-term constitutional future.
Developments in Scotland are being closely monitored in Northern Ireland, where Mr Salmond's deliberately non-confrontational approach to dealings with Westminster appears to have boosted DUP hopes of developing "islands-wide" co-operation through the British Irish Council.
Mr Salmond confirmed the SNP's "three-fold approach" to government, seeking to establish "competence in running the nation's affairs, a consensus to move Scotland forward on particular issues, and offering an overall vision of the country's future".
Setting this context for tomorrow's White Paper publication, the first minister told Scotland on Sunday: "The document will form the basis of a national conversation with the people, and will set out a vision of independence and responsibility in the modern world."
His spokesman had earlier said the White Paper would be an inclusive, governmental document - making clear that ministers believe independence and equality offers the best future for Scotland "while urging those who believe in other possibilities, such as more powers, to come into the conversation".
Mr Salmond obviously hopes the proposed national debate will increase pressure on the Liberal Democrats to back a multi-option referendum, given the party's own support for increased powers for Holyrood
However, in a foretaste of the SNP/Labour battle to come in the run-up to a British general election, Mr McConnell insisted: "A clear majority voted against independence parties in that [May] election because devolution in the UK is better for Scotland and most Scots know that. The new first minister should accept the will of the people and concentrate on the people's priorities."
Scottish secretary of state Des Browne also joined the debate, accusing the SNP of "grandstanding about policies people in Scotland don't want".