Rivals join in call for unity

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond (front centre) at Parliament Square in Edinburgh. Photo / AP

Cameron, Miliband jet north to campaign as poll finds Labour fate in Scottish hands.

Ministers are under pressure to explain how they would respond if Scots vote for independence, as it emerged that Labour is on course to win the 2015 general election only because of its strong support in Scotland.

The latest "poll of polls" for the Independent suggests that Opposition Leader Ed Miliband will win an overall majority of 32 next May. But if Scottish MPs are excluded, there would be a hung Parliament, with Labour three seats short of a majority. "Scotland is potentially critical to Labour's ability to win an overall majority," said John Curtice, professor of politics at Strathclyde University, who compiled the "poll of polls".

At present, Labour holds 41 of the 59 Scottish seats at Westminster and could land another five if the latest polls are reflected at the election next May. Labour is on 35 per cent, the Conservatives 31 per cent, Ukip 13 per cent and the Liberal Democrats 9 per cent.

The poll comes as the three Westminster party leaders make a final push today by visiting Scotland to campaign against independence. In a historic moment, Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Miliband were to abandon their weekly Prime Minister's Questions clash to fly north.

To further compound problems for the No campaign, Buckingham Palace rejected demands from MPs for the Queen to intervene, saying such a move would undermine the principle of "constitutional impartiality". In a strongly worded statement the Palace said it was a "duty of those in political office" to ensure that such principles were maintained and added it would be "categorically wrong" for Her Majesty to intervene.

Some Conservative MPs want Scottish voters excluded from the general election if the country decides to break away. The Scottish National Party has called for the election to be postponed so it did not disrupt negotiations before "independence day" in March 2016. Whitehall sources said delaying an election has not been discussed.

One official admitted: "It is too sensitive before the referendum but we couldn't duck it any longer if there were a Yes vote."

MPs in the three main parties said postponing would be "very unlikely". They fear it would be condemned as "anti-democratic" and a "constitutional outrage" and would be a gift for Ukip.

John Redwood, a former Tory Cabinet minister, said Scots should not participate in next year's election if they vote to leave Britain. He argued the election should take place as normal elsewhere, with Scottish MPs allowed to remain until independence. "Scottish MPs would only serve for less than a year and should not take an active part in non-Scottish matters. That seems to me the neatest solution," he said.

Peter Riddell, director of the Institute for Government think-tank, said the position would be "dangerous and unsustainable" if Miliband won a majority because of Scottish MPs.

However, Graham Allen, Labour chairman of the Select Committee on Political and Constitutional Reform, insisted Labour would simply move from having an overall majority to requiring the support of other parties.

After the idea was suggested by Miliband to abandon Prime Minister's Questions, Cameron agreed. The three leaders will campaign in different parts of Scotland but their message will be the same: "We want you to stay".

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, said: "The message of this extraordinary last-minute reaction is that the Westminster elite are in a state of panic as the ground in Scotland shifts under their feet."

- Independent

English urged to fly Saltire

Homes and offices in England should fly the Saltire in an attempt to convince Scotland that "we want you to stay", Prime Minister David Cameron said.

Families are urged to follow his lead after the Scottish flag was raised over Downing Street yesterday.

In what the superstitious might regard as a poor omen, however, the raising required two attempts, with the flag falling back to the rooftop after the rope became disconnected.

Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, called on town halls in England to fly the blue and white standard in an appeal for Scotland to remain in the Union. Scores of councils have done so, Labour sources said. The Prime Minister's official spokesman denied that the decision to raise the flag was "patronising".

- Telegraph Group Ltd