MPs Want Scots Blocked At 2015 Poll

David Cameron is being pressed to block Scottish voters from taking part in the 2015 general election if they back independence later this year.

Senior Tories want the Prime Minister to solve the electoral conundrum that could see Scottish MPs returned to parliament even if independence is backed by banning all 59 constituencies north of the border from taking part. 

The move would make a dramatic difference to the outcome of the election next year, wiping out a significant section of Labour's powerbase and a sizeable number of Liberal Democrats. 

In May 2010 Labour won 41 seats, the Lib Dems 11, the SNP six while the Conservatives secured just one MP. So far, there has been no decision on what would happen to Scotland's Westminster seats between parliamentary elections and March 2016, when it would become an independent nation, in the event of a yes vote this autumn. 

It is widely assumed that elections would continue as usual but Scottish MPs would then vacate their seats when links are severed. 

Tories believe it would unacceptable, however, for them to hold their seats while London and Edinburgh were negotiating the break-up of the UK Scottish-born John Stevenson, who represents Carlisle, told The Times: "Why should the peoples of Northern Ireland, Wales and England have laws passed in this House by MPs who for all intents and purposes are about to be part of a foreign country?'' 

The independence referendum will be held on Thursday, September 18 and more than four million people are registered to vote.