Scotland prepares for day of destiny
Scotland's decision day has arrived, with voters north of the border going to the polls today to determine if the country should remain part of the United Kingdom or not.
Tory backbencher calls for 'England First Minister'
An "English First Minister" should be appointed to balance powers awarded to Scotland in the event of country voting to stay in the United Kingdom, a top Conservative backbencher has told The Times (£).
Bernard Jenkin MP said that reforms to restrict votes on English issues to MPs from English constituencies are "urgent."
In a letter to The Times, the Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex, said that devolving further powers to Scotland would “have consequences for Whitehall”.
He wrote: “We could never have a Scottish UK chancellor setting English taxes in England at the annual budget, but not in his or her own constituency. So parliament will have to consider how to establish an English executive, with an English first minister and finance minister, along with England only departments for matters like health, education and local government, made accountable to English MPs alone.”
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How the newspapers are covering Scottish referendum day
One story dominates Thursday's front pages with some newspapers printing emotive pleas to voters to keep the United Kingdom as one.
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Scotland stands on the verge of history
In Edinburgh tonight you can hear it and feel it. The buzz, the banter of the day and the thrilling sense something big is coming tomorrow.
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Edinburgh completely energised by politics ahead of vote
There is nervousness, anxiety and on the streets of Edinburgh fuelled by an atmosphere unlike anything seen before in recent UK politics.