DOWNING STREET advisers privately conceded that Scotland could have a referendum on “anything it wants” without Westminster’s consent, previously classified documents from Tony Blair’s premiership have disclosed.

An email from the former prime minister’s key aide Pat McFadden ahead of releasing plans for devolution in 1997 also revealed that “a couple of very worried Scottish MPs” were concerned about “the slippery slope to independence.”

In the email to Mr Blair’s chief of staff Jonathan Powell, Mr McFadden quoted Donald Dewar, the Scottish secretary, following speculation in the press that the Scottish Parliament would be able to hold an independence referendum.