Following the SNP’s astonishing victory in last week’s Scottish Parliamentary election I was determined to raise the question of who has the authority to consent to the break up of the United Kingdom. Alex Salmond insists that this is a question for Scottish voters only. I think he is wrong. Union was the consequence of consent  by both sovereign nations. I believe voters throughout the UK should be consulted before it is broken up. The Mail on Sunday invited me to write about it. You can read my column here.  Then the Today Programme invited me to debate the topic. Listen here

This is not a selfish argument. I am a unionist and I recognise that a majority in England might choose to divorce Scotland, even if Scotland preferred to remain in the UK. As things stand that is probably  the most likely outcome. But the arguments for unity are powerful, the consequences for nations that have split asunder are often bad and usually unpredicted, and I am a democrat. Let the people choose.