Referendum round-up: Prisoner votes

Get the latest on the referendum on our Scottish independence site. Picture: Jane Barlow

TODAY’S MAIN NEWS:

An appeal by two convicted killers against the ban on prisoners voting in the Scottish independence referendum has failed.

Court of Session judges ruled that blocking prisoners from participating in September’s referendum is lawful and does not contravene human rights legislation.

Alistair Carmichael should face Alex Salmond in a TV debate if the Prime Minister is unwilling to take on the First Minister, according to the SNP’s Pete Wishart. Wishart made the call during Scottish questions at Westminster.

Meanwhile, new research from the University of Stirling suggests that there is a 79 per cent chance that Scottish voters will reject independence on 18 September.

COMMENT AND ANALYSIS:

Our Scottish independence site showcases some of the best comment, analysis and opinion from across the web; here are some of our favourite articles from the last 24 hours.

• Tom Freeman of Holyrood Magazine assesses the impact of interventions by famous names on the independence debate, and looks at the phenomenon of fictional characters being “asked” for their opinions on the constitutional debate.

• The BBC’s Esther Webber looks at the lack of support for devolution within England in the context of Scotland’s independence referendum, and ponders why English voters have voted against further powers in the past.

• YouGov president Peter Kellner takes an in-depth look at the reasons behind the varying results of opinion polls by the country’s main pollsters.

• Technology website TechRadar look into the possible impact of a referendum ‘Yes’ vote on Scotland’s thriving tech sector.

• The Guardian’s Libby Brooks follows Labour’s Jim Murphy on the campaign trail as he tours Scotland calling for a ‘No’ vote in September’s referendum.

Murphy is currently undertaking a tour of 100 Scottish towns in the 100 days leading to 18 September.

• Isobel Lindsay of Women for Independence looks back at the 1979 devolution referendum, and compares the build-up to the vote with the current referendum campaign.

• Kieran Oberman questions whether Scots have a duty to consider what is best for those outside Scotland when they vote in September’s referendum.

• Get the latest referendum news, opinion and analysis from across Scotland and beyond on our new Scottish Independence website

Referendum round-up: Prisoner votes | TV debates