I will quote you from Peter Obornes piece in the Daily Mail as I do not think I can link direct to it - hopefully this is allowed - (even though I am banned at the moment no need to rub in in).

"That is why, I can reveal, allies of Cameron have entered into informal talks with the SNP over recent months. Their objective is to save the union by working out a new kind of constitutional settlement for Scotland. Details are sketchy, but it is possible to indicate the main outlines.

An incoming Tory administration would need to meet Alex Salmond's demand that the Scottish Parliament should have massive new powers over taxation and public spending. In domestic terms, a Scottish administration would be entirely self-governing and have complete command over economic policy. And yet the union would be maintained through the retention of shared armed forces, foreign policy, and the monarchy.

These talks are complex. Alex Salmond is demanding control over business taxation, for example. Yet such a concession would be desperate;y unpopular south of the border, because it would allow Scotland to attract British firms by offering lower taxation. Salmon also wants to get rid of the Trident independant nuclear deterrent, which is based in Scotland- unthinkable for the Tories, who pride themselves as the party of defence."

This would be a good move for Salmond if he can pull it off. He gets virtual independance, the army stuff is becoming increasingly irrelevant as Europe develops, and still avoids a referendum which may or may notbe winnable.

Then all he has to do is continue to talk Scotland done a different economic, cultural, etc, path to widen the differences between it and England. Time will then do the business.

Remember one thing about Cameron - he is a man of image - fur coat and no knickers. This gives the image of him being the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom yet in reality he is not.

The appearance of law must be upheld, especially when it's being broken. Boss Tweed - Gangs of New York - the same principle applies - and always will