Scottish Independence: Decision Day For Voters

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Around four million Scottish voters go to the polls today in a referendum that will change Britain forever, whatever the outcome.

A Yes vote at the end of a hard-fought campaign will bring an end to the Union of the United Kingdom that has stood for more than 300 years.

Voters will be asked a simple question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

After the polls close at 10pm tonight, counting of the votes takes place at 32 regional centres all over Scotland and then once each result is in, the numbers will be sent to the main counting centre in Edinburgh.

The earliest declarations, at around 2am on Friday, will include North Lanarkshire, Orkney, East Lothian and Perth and Kinross.

The latest, at 6am, is expected to be Aberdeen. Dundee is expected at 3am and Edinburgh and Glasgow at 5am.

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Fear Of IS 'Demonstration Killing' Led To Raids

Fears of extremists carrying out "demonstration killings" led to the country's largest ever anti-terror raids by police, Australia's Prime Minister has said.

More than 800 officers took part in the operation which saw at least 15 people detained and one charged with a serious "terrorism-related" offence.

Police said intelligence indicated a random, violent attack was being planned.

More than 800 police officers were involved in the raids

The early morning raids of homes and businesses in Sydney and Brisbane came just days after Australia raised its national terror threat level to "high" for the first time, citing the likelihood of terrorist attacks by Australians radicalised in Iraq or Syria.

Tony Abbott told reporters the operation had been prompted by information that an Australian, who is senior in the Islamic State militant group, had been calling on supporters in Australia to "conduct demonstration killings".

He said: "Quite direct exhortations were coming from an Australian who is apparently quite senior in ISIL to networks of support back in Australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country.

"This is not just suspicion, this is intent and that's why the police and security agencies decided to act in the way they have."

He did not name the Australian.

A suspect is detained by armed police during the operation

Police have issued an arrest warrant for a former Sydney nightclub bouncer Mohammad Ali Baryalei, 33, who is suspected to be Australia's most senior member of the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

Australian Federal Police Acting Commissioner Andrew Colvin said: "In all 25 search warrants were conducted across the suburbs of Sydney that included in excess of 800 officers.

"Those 800 officers comprised a range of different police skills and capabilities, obviously investigators, forensics experts, specialist tactical officers, surveillance officers and the like and as you've seen reported and as has been said already it is the largest of its type undertaken in Australia's history."

He added: "Police believe that this group that we have executed this operation on today had the intention and had started to carry out planning to commit violent acts here in Australia.

A police forensic expert gathers evidence at a property in Sydney

"Those violent acts particularly related to random acts against members of the public.

"So what we saw today and the operation that continues was very much about police disrupting the potential for violence against the Australian community at the earliest possible opportunity."

Sydney is home to around half of Australia's 500,000 Muslims live in Sydney, with the majority living in the western suburbs where the raids were carried out.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the operation showed the reality of the threat facing Australia.

He said: "You know it is of serious concern that right at the heart of our communities we have people that are planning to conduct random attacks.

"Today we work together to make sure that didn't happen. We have disrupted that particular attack."

Police chiefs said the operation highlighted the reality of the threat

Australia, which is due to host the G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane in mid-November, is concerned over the number of its citizens believed to be fighting overseas with Islamist militant groups.

Mr Scipione said: "Our police will continue to work tirelessly to prevent any such attacks but certainly can I stress that right now, is a time for calm.

"We don't need to whip this up.

"We need to let people know that they are safe and certainly from our perspective we know that the work this morning will ensure that all of those plans that may have been on foot have been thwarted."

Up to 160 Australians have either been involved in the fighting in the Middle East or actively supporting it, officials said.

At least 20 are believed to have returned to Australia and pose a national security risk, the head of the country's spy agency said when raising the threat level last week.

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Salmond: No One Can Stop Scotland Using Pound

How Facebook Shaped The Referendum

Updated: 8:27am UK, Tuesday 16 September 2014

By James Matthews, Scotland Correspondent

It's Facebook 'wot might win it.

Sure, the August poll surge in support for independence was down, in part, to traditional campaigning. Meetings and megaphones have thrust the Yes campaign "in yer face" over years leading up to Thursday.

But why, according to the opinion polls, did it all seem to come together in the space of a few weeks? Why, suddenly, the knife-edge?

In the word of a senior Yes strategist: Facebook.

I chatted to him as the Alex Salmond Labour Heartland tour rolled up at its latest venue, playing to the target market through the TV cameras. It was a big, well-attended, photo-call - the staple diet of the political campaign.

As the strategist stood back from the madding crowd, he told me that the magic formula didn't lie in the blood and snotters of a mass media scrum, but in the quiet exploitation of social media. Facebook, in particular.

The challenge for supporters of Scottish independence, historically, has been in turning it from a fringe notion into something people allow themselves to contemplate. Check their election success at the Scottish Parliament to see the considerable style with which that's been accomplished.

Scots have taken the hop and a step. Why, now, might they be shaping to take the jump? 

The Yes strategist pinned it on Facebook.

"Ask yourself," he said, to paraphrase him, "if a parent wants to check on their youngster who's on a night out, what do they do?  They don't phone them, because they probably won't answer.

"They might text ... but, invariably, they'll Facebook them. And when they do, dozens or hundreds of their friends will see it. It's a chat network that plugs people into the other people they value. There are no better opinion-formers for someone than the friends and family they like and trust.

"So, as a campaigning tool, it's been very effective. We encourage Yes supporters to spread the word to their Facebook friends and, over time, you build a network around people that builds a political case.

"Facebook is more effective than Twitter. You put something on Twitter and you reach people within the political bubble. With Facebook, you tap into a far bigger community."

So why the spike in support for Yes after polls that had No with a consistent and strong lead over the course of a two and a half year campaign?

"People just didn't turn their mind to the referendum until it actually came round. It's been in the far distance for most of the campaign but, now that people realise they're getting to decision time, large numbers are now weighing up the arguments ... and they're deciding having had their views on independence softened by Facebook friends."

There were more than 10 million referendum-related interactions on Facebook in the five weeks to September 8 - 85% of which was from Scotland.

He said he reckoned the Yes campaign had been four or five times more active than their opponents on Facebook and pointed out a Facebook chat with Scotland's pro-independence First Minister Alex Salmond attracted around 5,000 questions.

Data suggests the Yes campaign is slightly in the lead with 2.05 interactions in Scotland compared to 1.96 million for the no campaign.

The strategist said the campaigning beauty of social media was that it eliminated the need to rely on mainstream media coverage, that the likes of Facebook cut out the middle man and enabled them to reach out to the voter directly.

Just how many the campaign has touched and what effect it has had, we'll find out soon enough.

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Sky Poll: Scots Unclear Over No Vote Powers

PM May Regret 'Double Or Quits' Scot Gamble

Updated: 6:44pm UK, Tuesday 16 September 2014

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

If David Cameron has any regrets on the eve of the final day of campaigning in the Scottish referendum, one might centre on the terms he negotiated for this historic vote.

After all, polls suggest that the largest group of Scots did not want to choose "yes" or "no". Instead, they would have been happy with a third option, so-called "devo-max".

But the Prime Minister, not keen on handing over more devolution, decided to play double or quits.

He made the contest a straight choice - presumably confident that it would result in the outcome that he wanted.

Now there is a chance that his gamble may not pay off.

What no one expected months ago, when the No campaign had a 22-point lead, was a race that would be described in its final days as being on a knife-edge.

But that is what Mr Cameron is now faced with.

And it explains why he, along with Labour leader Ed Miliband, and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, have put a big new offer on the table for Scottish voters.

An offer that devolves more powers to the country, and is being received by many of its newspapers as the "devo max" the Prime Minister originally rejected.

The Daily Record, for example, says the choice is now between a "no" vote that means Scotland and the UK are changed forever, or a "yes" vote that ends Britain.

Offering that new choice leaves Mr Cameron facing a potential backlash in England among MPs who feel his promise gives their constituents an unfair deal.

He did it because the stakes are high, with the Prime Minister's job under threat if he loses this vote.

That is why on Monday, instead of bowing to calls to recall Parliament to discuss the murder of a British hostage in the Middle East, he travelled to Aberdeen to love-bomb Scotland.

Mr Cameron said he would be "heartbroken" if the UK was divided, telling Scots he knew they did not like him but he would not be around forever.

But if the stakes are high for the Conservative leader, they are arguably higher for his Labour counterpart, who faces losing dozens of MPs and the hope of future majorities.

That is why Ed Miliband will be north of the border from now until after the vote.

As for Mr Clegg, an independent Scotland would lose him one fifth of his Parliamentary party.

Yet their challenge remains a steep one - a Yes campaign that has energy and momentum, and which has already persuaded a large proportion of Scots to change their mind.

Alex Salmond enters these final 24 hours with his life-long dream of independence in touching distance.

And remember, no one expected it to be this close.

If he just misses out, he will still be able to argue that his campaign pushed the opposition into placing on offer on the table with many more powers for the Scottish people.

With one day to go, Mr Salmond is, arguably, facing a win-win situation.

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Scotland Campaign Trail 'Sours', Says Darling

The atmosphere in the Scottish independence race has become "soured", according to the leader of the Better Together campaign.

Alistair Darling said aspects of the trail were "deeply depressing", as he cited a demonstration against a broadcaster whose reporting was perceived to be biased against independence.

Up to 1,000 Yes supporters held a demo outside BBC Scotland's headquarters in Glasgow on Sunday.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We believe our coverage of the referendum has been rigorously impartial and in line with our guidelines on fairness and impartiality."

Mr Darling told Sky News Tonight: "How depressing was it when people marched through the streets of Glasgow with posters of journalists that were out of favour with the nationalists."

He said some people found the protest "deeply sinister" and he said people should not feel bullied into voting Yes.

A protest outside the BBC in Glasgow on Sunday

"The atmosphere has been soured in recent weeks", he told Sky's Adam Boulton.

And he urged the country to unite after Thursday's referendum, regardless of whether there was a Yes or No vote.

He said: "Whatever the result it is up to everyone to make sure as a country we work together because it is in all our interests."

Mr Darling said there were supporters of the union who were afraid to speak out.

And he said as the polls narrowed "it has galvanised a lot of people who up until now, have been reluctant to say things, that this is so big that I am not prepared to let my country go the wrong way".

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said people must be able "to express a view in a peaceful and joyous fashion".

Asked in an interview with the Sunday Herald whether the BBC's referendum coverage was biased, he responded: "Yes, absolutely."

He added: "Don't get me wrong, I like these folk, but they don't realise they're biased. It's the unconscious bias which is the most ­extraordinary thing of all."

Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael claimed Yes campaigners were using "intimidation tactics" and called on Mr Salmond to act.

He said: "The reality of this is the people who are jostled in the streets, the people who are pushed off the streets are not Alex Salmond or Nicola Sturgeon or John Swinney; it's people like John Prescott and Alistair Darling.

"And they are pushed off the streets by people waving Yes posters.

"If there is bullying here, clearly there is now quite a serious atmosphere where people who are supporting a No vote don't feel comfortable in saying so publicly."

Mr Salmond has claimed the Prime Minister's "fingerprints are all over a scaremongering" campaign by banks, businesses and leading retailers who have voiced their concerns over independence.

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Westminster Leaders Pledge 'No' Vote Powers

By Niall Paterson, News Correspondent

A promise of more powers for Scotland if it rejects independence has been signed by the leaders of the three main parties at Westminster.

David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have put their names to a letter which appears on the front page of the Daily Record newspaper.

It promises "extensive new powers" for the Scottish Parliament "delivered by the process and to the timetable agreed" by the three parties.

All three Westminster party leaders are urging a No vote in the referendum

But independence campaigners argue a Yes vote in Thursday's referendum is the only way to guarantee Scotland gets the powers it needs.

In the letter, the party leaders say they agree that "the UK exists to ensure opportunity and security for all by sharing our resources equitably across all four nations".

The joint letter also states: "And because of the continuation of the Barnett allocation for resources and the powers of the Scottish Parliament to raise revenue, we can state categorically that the final say on how much is spent on the NHS will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament."

A spokesman for Yes Scotland said: "It's clear that project panic is willing to say anything in the last few days of the campaign to try to halt the Yes momentum - anything except what new powers, if any, they might be willing to offer.

"The reality is that the only way to guarantee Scotland gets all the powers we need to create jobs and protect our NHS is with a Yes vote on Thursday - so that we can use our enormous wealth to create a better and fairer country."

With the referendum just days away, the polls suggest the crucial vote will go to the wire.

Little wonder then that as the campaign enters its tightly balanced and ferociously fought endgame, passion has occasionally turned to anger.

Both sides now accuse the other of intimidation - Yes crying foul and accusing Downing Street of an orchestrated campaign of fear; Better Together claiming that their campaigners and supporters are routinely shouted down, bullied and abused.

The party leaders' pledge appeared on the front of the Daily Record

No doubt in every town across Scotland reasoned debate has on occasion morphed into ill-tempered shouting match.

Yet both sides now recognise the need, after the vote, to move forward as one nation, independent or otherwise.

Leader of the Better Together campaign, Alistair Darling, told Sky News: "Whatever the result, it's up to everyone whether you're a politician or whether you're not to make sure that as a country we work together because that's in all our interests."

In truth, there is little that has happened which hasn't happened in every election since time immemorial.

Online, the invective is certainly brutal.

Keyboard warriors feel free to deploy some pretty hideous insults in support of their argument.

Yet that was as true during the 2005 election, when the blogosphere was a key part of the electoral narrative.

And it is certainly the case that politicians being heckled and, yes, abused in pretty unparliamentary language, is nothing new.

Alex Salmond argues only a Yes vote can deliver the powers Scotland needs

Still, the heckling does seem to be largely directed at Better Together.

And online, again the weight of less-than-constructive criticism does seem to be borne by those on the No side.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Nobody should be intimidating, nobody should feel intimidated.

"I really strongly believe that based on my own experiences on the campaign trail that we're engaged in something really spectacular in Scotland right now."

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Cameron Hardens With Pledge To 'Destroy' IS

By Faisal Islam, Political Editor, in Downing Street

The message from Downing Street today was one of resolve.

The Government will not be bounced into a change of strategy by the heinous public murder of a British aid worker.

The rhetoric, however, did harden somewhat.

The Prime Minister returned from Chequers to Downing St last night after the murder. He was referred to by name in the video distributed by IS.

He responded with a personal message. David Haines was a "British hero" who devoted his life to humanitarian aid, he said.

Mr Haines' killers, including the masked man with the British accent, "are not Muslims, they are monsters". He vowed that Britain would and could not "walk on by".

He hardened previous language about "squeezing ISIL out of existence" to a promise to "destroy ISIL with an iron determination".

Mr Haines was kidnapped in Syria in 2013

This looked like a PM about to announce military action. Indeed the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced the deployment of 600 combat personnel and military aircraft to the UAE.

The direction of travel is pretty clear. But the actual strategy remains the same.

There will be no emergency recall of Parliament, as suggested by some backbench MPs, including ex-Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt.

There will be no British combat "boots on the ground". Airstrikes are neither ruled in nor ruled out.

The limited lethal military aid, (some small quantity of heavy weaponry) given to the Kurdish peshmerga will continue.

Any ramping up of this will only be after the creation of a stable inclusive Iraqi government (which has started) and the establishment of a regional coalition.

The killer refers to Mr Cameron by name in the beheading video

As the PM told Sky News at the NATO summit, he is keen to show he has "learnt the lessons of the past".

That is a reference to the Iraq war in 2003. That involves a detailed, sustainable, diplomatic plan.

It is also fortuitous, because the PM can continue to avoid getting ahead of public and parliamentary opinion.

He is understandably burnt from the experience of the Syria vote a year ago. My assessment is that his Coalition, parliament, and the public, are getting on side.

The other break on immediate action, of course, is US President Barack Obama. The White House put out a statement saying the US stood "shoulder to shoulder" with the UK.

The aim to "degrade and destroy" ISIL is clear. The assessment that a "Western intervention" alone is not a sustainable solution to this issue remains.

One key understated reason: that using superior western military might, is also a form of leverage for good behaviour from the new government in Iraq.

So the direction of travel remains clear. But we are still not yet at the point of the actual military engagement of a multinational coalition.

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Global Push To Combat IS After UK Beheading

International efforts to combat Islamic State militants have taken on added urgency after the beheading of a British aid worker and the threat to kill a second UK hostage.

The brutal murder of David Haines comes amid moves to form a broad coalition against the terror group, which has grabbed large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq.

With a summit due to be held in Paris aimed at countering the IS threat, Washington said several countries in the Middle East had offered to join airstrikes against the militants and Australia said it would send aircraft and personnel.

Mr Haines was taken hostage in Syria last year

But despite the killing of Mr Haines, Prime Minister David Cameron gave no indication over whether he would commit military forces to airstrikes.

Video footage of the British aid worker's death shows a knife-wielding militant who speaks with a British accent.

The clip also includes a threat to kill a second hostage, Alan Henning, who was a volunteer on an aid convoy.

It follows the beheadings of two American journalists.

Mr Cameron has vowed to "hunt down" the "monsters" who killed Mr Haines, and said the crime would "strengthen our resolve" to smash the extremist network which has seized swathes of Iraq and Syria.

John Kerry has been touring the Middle East to rally support against IS

He said the UK would seek to "mobilise the broadest possible support to bear down" on IS at the United Nations as efforts continue to form a coalition of countries - especially those in the region - to take part in a concerted offensive.

"This is not about British combat troops on the ground, it is about working with others to extinguish this terrorist threat.

"As this strategy intensifies we are ready to take whatever steps are necessary to deal with this threat and keep our country safe," he said.

Although former military chiefs are among those pressing for the UK to join airstrikes, Downing Street has ruled out any immediate recall of Parliament.

Mr Cameron has vowed to 'hunt down' the 'monsters' who killed Mr Haines

Explaining Mr Cameron's dilemma, Sky's Chief Political Correspondent Jon Craig said: "The problem is that Mr Cameron, as one insider put it to me, is once bitten twice shy.

"He tried to get a vote in Parliament last year on missile strikes on Syria.

"Thirty or so Conservative MPs voted against, as did Labour, and he lost the vote. He was humiliated.

"So he doesn't particularly want to go sown that route again."

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who has been touring the Middle East to rally support, told CBS: "We have countries in this region, countries outside of this region, in addition to the United States, all of whom are prepared to engage in military assistance, in actual strikes if that is what it requires.

"And we also have a growing number of people who are prepared to do all the other things.

A central part of the plan is to engage Arab countries in the coalition

"I've been extremely encouraged to hear from all of the people that I've been meeting with about their readiness and willingness to participate."

However, Iraq's president said it was "not necessary" for Arab powers to join airstrikes against Islamic State.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Fouad Massoum also expressed regret that Iran was not invited to take part in the 26-nation conference in Paris.

The conference, which is made up of mostly Western and Arab world countries and the five permanent UN Security Council members, aims to show a united front, especially from majority-Muslim nations.

Iran has dismissed the meeting as "just for show".

Deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told state television: "What would interest Iran is a real fight against terrorism in the region and around the world, not this selective one."

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PM Condemns 'Murder' Of British Aid Worker

British Prime David Cameron has condemned the beheading of British aid worker David Haines by Islamic State, describing it as an "act of pure evil".

A video put out by the militant organisation shows 44-year-old father of two Mr Haines being murdered.

In a statement put out by Downing Street, Mr Cameron says: "This is a despicable and appalling murder of an innocent aid worker. It is an act of pure evil.

"My heart goes out to the family of David Haines who have shown extraordinary courage and fortitude throughout this ordeal.

"We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice, however long it takes."

Mr Haines brother Mike said his sibling was "just another bloke" who "helped whoever needed help" until he was murdered "in cold blood".

David Cameron returned to Downing Street with his head bowed

Mr Haines was thought have been held captive by militant group Islamic State after being kidnapped from a Syrian refugee camp close to the border with Turkey last year.

Mr Cameron has returned to Downing Street and will chair a Cobra meeting today, officials confirmed.

The release of the video came hours after Mr Haines family urged his captors to contact them.

In the video, the victim looks into the camera makes a statement, holding Mr Cameron responsible for his own "execution".

In the statement, which may have been made under duress, he said: "You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States against the Islamic State just as your predecessor Tony Blair did, following a trend against our British prime ministers who can't find the courage to say 'no' to the Americans.

"Unfortunately it is we the British public that in the end will pay the price for our Parliament's selfish decisions."

The killing comes just weeks after two American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff were also seen being beheaded by Islamic State (IS), in similarly filmed videos.

Behind Mr Haines, stood a man in black, who appeared to speak with an English accent.

David Haines worked as an aid worker

After Mr Haines finished, the man said : "This British man has to the pay the price for your promise, Cameron, to arm the peshmerga against the Islamic State.

"Your evil alliance with America which continues to strike the Muslims of Iraq and most recently bombed the Haditha Dam will only accelerate your destruction."

"If you, Cameron, persist in fighting the Islamic State then you like your master Obama will have the blood of your people on your hands."

Another man who Sky News is not naming, said to be British, then appears at the end of the video and is threatened with being killed.

The Foreign Office said Mr Haines' family wished to be left alone.

US President Barack Obama has put out a statement saying: "Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Haines and to the people of the United Kingdom.

"The United States stands shoulder to shoulder tonight with our close friend and ally in grief and resolve."

The murders have prompted a number of commentators to call for swift and firm action. Former head of the Army Lord Dannatt said the UK should respond by playing its role in the assault against IS promised by US president Barack Obama.

"What we absolutely need to do is not be cowed in any way by yet another foul murder of a hostage," he said.

More follows...

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IS: Beheading Is Revenge For UK Helping Kurds

The beheading of British hostage David Haines was in retaliation for David Cameron promising to arm Kurdish fighters in Iraq, says Islamic State.

Aid worker Mr Haines was killed by the insurgent group in a video where he is pictured kneeling in front of an IS extremist who is holding a knife.

The jihadist, who appears to have a British accent, said: "This British man has to pay the price for your promise, Cameron, to arm the peshmerga against the Islamic State."

He criticised the UK's "evil alliance with America", calling the Prime Minister an "obedient lapdog".

He also said the US "continues to strike the Muslims of Iraq and most recently bombed the Haditha Dam (which) will only accelerate your destruction".

"And playing the role of the obedient lapdog Cameron will only drag you and your people into another bloody and unwinnable war".

The militant added: "If you, Cameron, persist in fighting the Islamic State then you like your master Obama will have the blood of your people on your hands."

David Cameron returns to Downing Street for crisis talks

Mr Haines, speaking under duress, also talked to the camera, saying he held the Prime Minister "entirely responsible for my execution".

He added: "You entered voluntarily into a coalition with the United States against the Islamic State just as your predecessor Tony Blair did, following a trend against our British prime ministers who can't find the courage to say no to the Americans.

"Unfortunately it is we the British public that in the end will pay the price for our Parliament's selfish decisions."

The video began with an interview clip of the Prime Minister and then featured Mr Haines, dressed in orange overalls, making his remarks.

IS militants previously beheaded two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, posting the evidence online in videos featuring a masked jihadist with a British accent.

Mr Cameron described Mr Haines' beheading as "an act of pure evil".

He added: "My heart goes out to the family of David Haines who have shown extraordinary courage and fortitude throughout this ordeal.

"We will do everything in our power to hunt down these murderers and ensure they face justice, however long it takes."

The Foreign Office said it was offering the Haines family "every support possible".

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