The Sunday Herald produced a talking point in Scottish politics after a bold editorial decision which left half a page blank in its double-page spread on independence.

Blank: The prime minister fell short of his word count

A year ahead of the poll, the Sunday Herald asked both Downing Street and Holyrood for a contribution to the weekend’s coverage.

The paper explained: “In the interests of balance, we allocated exactly the same space to David Cameron and to First Minister Alex Salmond.

“When the Prime Minister’s statement reached us yesterday we told his office it fell far short of the First Minister’s contribution, which it would be placed next to.

“At the time of going to press, nothing else had been received from Downing Street.”

In its editorial, the paper said it would take an official position on independence before the referendum but would “strive” to provide balance in the year ahead – even if David Cameron made it difficult.

“We will strive always to eschew bias,” the editorial read. “We will give space to both sides of the debate… although it has to be said that balance can prove difficult to achieve when major players such as David Cameron are reluctant to articulate their arguments at length when given the opportunity to do so.

“In due course, on the eve of the referendum, we will offer our recommendation. Stands Scotland where is did? No longer, surely, afraid to know itself.”

This referendum will take place in exactly a year from this week, on 18 September 2014.