EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 16 (UPI) -- A draft of Scotland's proposed constitution was unveiled, in case a Sept. 18 referendum decides the United Kingdom country will become independent.
The Scottish government, represented by deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, announced the temporary constitution, which would take effect in March 2016 if the referendum passes. A "constitutional convention" would be convened later to prepare a permanent constitution.
The interim structure decrees: Scotland's people -- and not government or parliament -- are sovereign; that Scotland will be an independent democracy with the queen, namely Queen Elizabeth II, as head of state: and British nuclear weapons, installed on submarines currently based in the Clyde River, would be removed.
In addition, the constitution also calls for a Scottish flag, a national anthem, and rules for citizenship. And it contains measures reinforcing human rights and the safeguarding of children.
The primary organization campaigning to keep England and Scotland unified, Better Together, noted Scottish ministers had still not calculated or announced the start-up costs for independence.
