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
