THE people of Scotland go to the polls today to decide whether they should become an independent nation.

At the same time, of course, they are deciding the future of the United Kingdom.

It is their decision but the referendum result will affect all of us.

Indeed, there has already been an impact of Wales with the pledge by the three main Westminster party leaders to maintain the Barnett formula for public funding if Scotland votes No.

The referendum campaign only sprang into life a fortnight ago as opinion polls suggested a surge in support for independence.

Before then, the impression was the No camp was campaigning on auto-pilot, safe in the knowledge that it led the polls by some distance.

Since then we have had panic stations and last-minute political and economic offers (or bribes, as some would call them).

We have even had the slightly bizarre sight of regional newspapers based in places like Cardiff and Southampton urging Scotland to 'stay with us'.

This newspaper will not be following suit, particularly as most Scottish voters will never see what we have written anyway.

Would we prefer to see the union maintained? Yes. But the decision rests with the people of Scotland.

They must vote as they see fit.

One way or the other, there are historic hours ahead of us today.