Teens 'want facts' ahead of Scottish independence vote

The Scottish independence referendum is exactly a year away.

Anyone living in Scotland who is aged 16 or over will be able to vote on 18 September 2014.

The question will be: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

Newsbeat visited Ullapool in the Highlands to speak to pupils who will be among the youngest voters.

Their closest city, Inverness, is 60 miles away and it's more than 600 miles by road from London, where many decisions affecting Scottish people are made at the moment.

Freya Anderson, 15, and Ian Shackleton, 17, say they'd vote yes if the referendum was taking place now.

Ian said: "We're not fighting for freedom from tyrants down south or anything, but freedom as a country to decide our own future."

They say it's vital to help people in places like Ullapool get their voices heard.

Freya said: "Because Scotland is so much smaller than England, it isn't properly represented.

Ian added: "All of the Scottish MPs in Westminster could vote against something and it would still get through because there are far more English, Welsh and Northern Irish."

But Matthew Pyke, 15, and Dana Lees, 16, are edging the other way.

Dana said: "I've got concerns about whether Scotland could cope by itself. I also think, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'."

Matthew fears people will vote yes for the wrong reasons.

He said: "A lot will just think, 'We want independence because we don't like the English'." He says he includes his own dad.

Freya added: "All of the politicians are saying different things - I don't trust any of them."

Dana agreed: "There's too much gossiping and back-stabbing between the two campaigns and it isn't helping at all."

What would Scotland be like after getting independence?

1. The economy - Would Scotland's stocks of gas and oil make it a richer independent country or is there more security in sticking with Britain's much bigger economy?

2. The military - Scotland would need its own armed forces and an independent Scottish government led by the SNP would look to get rid of the UK's nuclear weapons, based at Faslane in Clyde.

3. The EU - Those supporting independence say Scotland would have no trouble staying in the EU, but opponents claim it would have to apply and that could take years.

4. Currency - Pro-independence groups want to continue using the pound, but it's not clear if that will be the case. Other options would be joining the euro or setting up a new currency.

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