Oh dear. Very dangerous ground.
If it was put to the vote in both areas I have no doubt that Scotland would vote to stay in the union. Trouble is that in England the vote would almost certainly go the other way - simply voting in reaction to the ridiculous situation that devoloution has created.

Chris S, London,

Good riddance, Tim? Would we cease to be neighbours if Scotland were politically independent? But let us not cavil at your logic - questions as to independence for Scotland - and therefore for England too -now relate merely to the timescale, and not the outcome; Cameron's rise has seen to that...

Richard, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Grangemouth strike let the cat out of the bag: the oil industry said the pipeline closure (30% of North Sea output) was costing the UK Treasury £25 million/day - or £9 BILLION/year! At some point the Scots will tire of subsidising the English, and England will have to stand on its own 2 feet.

Graeme, Dinan, France

"independence, devolution or a unitary state - with all the British people eligible to vote. "

Does that mean England gets a vote on an English parliament , English government, English executive ministry, English PM , English civil service and English budget .

Not British , English.

John , London ,

Tim,

I think you are incorrect. All of the main political parties agree on the sovereignty of the Scottish people - so if the Scottish people vote YES then independence will duly follow.

Alex, Dublin, Ireland

Indeed the English should have a vote on Scottish devolution. In fact we should have a referendum! After all, their MPs, [which includes the PM], vote on all English affecting matters!
But don't be surprised if the voters say "Go on, leave if you like; but take all your MPs with you!"

S. Barraclough, Huddersfield, W. Yorkshire

"The electorate that is trusted to elect Mr Brown as Prime Minister is entitled to determine the future of the nation he purports to lead" Which electorate would that be then?

Simon, Brussels,

Tim - just plain wrong. It only takes one or other of the countries to reject the Union - not both. Then the principle of self-determination takes over. And what has WW2 got to do with anything? By that logic, in 1945 Britain should have become a state of the USA or a Soviet Socialist Republic.

Frank, Glasgow,

This is the 21st Century. Peoples are entilted to national self-determination (International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights 1976 signed by the UK). If the Scots wish to opt out of the Union who is to stop them? Why should anyone stop them? The Unionists do not make the argument for the Union.

Ian Campbell, West Horsley, England

And doesn't this just show how self-obsessed Scots are and how skewed is the debate?

Why is it presumed any referendum is about Scottish independence and not English independence?

Home rule for England.

John Bowman, Sarlat, France

Robert E'
No need for animosity, let's just have the referendum.

Denis, Glasgow, Scotland

J.MConnell said of Lucjhurst's piece:

"Constitutionally ignorant claptrap"

Yes and it was complemented by some rank pompous humbug rendolent of ye olden days :

“The people of this nation state, who stood united against Nazism, are entitled to know what will be lost if Britain is obliterated.”

Pass the sick bucket quick!

Ted Harvey, Glasgow, uk

Presumably if Orkney and/or Shetland voted for independence or union with Norway that would be acceptable to the SNP.

What is needed in the UK is properly devolved regional assemblies/governments as in so many other countries, not the stultifying centralism that exists here.

Dave, Wrexham,

Despite what the SNP agitators say, the majority of Scots (and the English for that matter) are perfectly happy with the status quo. I see nothing changing. A referendum will demonstrate that.

Scott, Glasgow,

It's interesting to see these debates gather strength throughout the EU (such as in Belgium, which I follow closely as a Dutchman). Pardon my (foreign) ignorance, but what would happen to Wales and Northern Ireland if Scotland and England part ways? How is the Union (UK) set up exactly?

Erik, the Hague, Netherlands

I'm from Liverpool and had many Scots friends in the RAF and M. Navy. I would favour the Union but if independence means a return to friendship between Scotland and England, then I'd go for it. I would hesitate to impose my view so I say; 'Let Scotland decide".
John C

John Cullen, Cork (ex Liverpool), Ireland

the Union is precisely that, a partnership of two soveriegn partners. If one wants out then that's it?

Suspect the panic from Mr Luckhurst is tied to the reality that it is Scotland that subsidies England and not the other way round.

Iain Lawson, Paisley, Scotland

The time has come to debate this fully and determine a just and democratic future for England. It's bad enough having to pander to the decisions made in Brussels but having MP's voting on Scottish issues in Hollyrood then in Westminster is immoral if not criminal.

John , Newcastle,

Whats good for Scotland is good for England.

For far to long, England has been denied any influence in the make up and decisions that affect it, not to mention the lack of devolution to England as a nation (ie English Parliament)

Good luck with your independence, Scotland.

Christopher Reeves, Baughurst, Hampshire, England

The English have very right to vote on keeping, or getting rid of, Scotland within the Union.
I for one will vote for them to be cut loose, and MPs with Scottish seats to be removed from the House of Commons.
Tim Luckhurst makes sense, I hope he's listened to.

Ken Walters, Ormskirk, England

No way.

Constitutionally ignorant claptrap.

J McConnell, Edinburgh, Scotland

Being democratic does means giving both the Scots & the English a vote in a referendum on the future of the union because WE are both currently part of that same union. If not devolution will become like a destructive bitter divorce one-sided divorce where only hate & injustice will thrive.

Stuart MacLean, Glasgow,

Would Professor Luckhurst have demanded a commonweatlh-wide referendum when India decided to go it alone? Should Canada vote on Australia becoming a republic? Should Germany have gone to the polls on Poland's independence? No, no, no. The issue is self-determination, not paternal-determination.

sctld, Edinburgh, Scotland

England shouldn't get a vote on continuance of the UK because they might vote against what Scotland wants? It's better to say that Scotland should not get a vote on whether the UK continues because they might vote against what England wants - England is much bigger. Why let the tail wag the dog?

IM Archer, Alton, England

Previous posters are missing an obvious point:

Scotland may vote in favour of the Union, while England may vote against.

I would imagine that if either country voted to end the Union, that would be enough.

Stuart, Canterbury, Kent

I seem to recall that the original union passed on giving the people of either country a say on the matter and was decided by a few individuals bent on recouping their losses from the Darien scheme with payments from England. Surely the Scottish people are entitled to vote on it now after 300 years.

Phil, Edinburgh,

Say the Scots svotes "out" & England votes "in" - or Scots vote "in" & England votes "out". Are The Scots Guards to occupy England? The union only works by mutual consent, just like marriage. If one partner wants out, it's all over. N.Ireland shows us the troops are not an option.

Sebastian W., Bedford, UK

I think this is a very good idea.Give us English a vote and Scotland will be gone in no time.The long whine from the north will eventually fade, we will not only save a fortune, but lose a good part of the Cabinet while answering the West Lothian question.
Sorted.

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

Lyndon misses the point - the real issue is what if Scotland votes no but England votes yes. What is Labour going to do then?

Vasco, Lacock,

So if two parties form an agreement, and one decides it wishes to end the agreement, the other party has to agree with this decision?

Doesn't every legal contract have a section that outlines when a contract can be ended?

Termination by frustration and/or termination by performance seem apt.

Owen, Auckland,

Just in case Mr Luckhurst and his colonial ilk hadn't noticed. Scotland has its own democratically elected SNP Government. It was elected on a manifesto which included a referendum of the Scottish people on independence. Nothing to do with England. Oh, and it really is OUR oil (117$ a barrel).

J Mathews, Glasgow, Scotland

So let me get this right, you want the English to vote on whether or not Scotland becomes independent, and if Scotland votes yes but England votes no, what are you going to do then? Send the troops in? Are you insane?

Lyndon, Caerdydd, Cymru

I am opposed to the break up of the United Kingdom - but these remarks of Professor Luckhurst are folly. What if the majority of Scotland's voters voted for independence and England's voted against it? And this barred independence? Violence would ensue. Scotland would become the new N. Ireland.

Liam, Stoke, UK