UNION SUPPORTERS TO MOUNT FIGHTBACK

Supporters of the union are mounting a frantic fightback after a shock poll suggested the United Kingdom could be consigned to history in 10 days' time.

David Cameron, who spent the weekend with the Queen at Balmoral, will this week attempt to convince sceptics that Scotland will get significantly more autonomy even if independence is rejected.

Meanwhile, Labour is deploying some of its biggest beasts to try to halt the apparent nationalist surge - with Ed Miliband also stressing that extra powers will start being devolved "right after" a No vote.

TWO MEN QUIZZED OVER MISSING ALICE

Two men with no connection to each other are being questioned over the murder of missing schoolgirl Alice Gross.

Despite the arrests police are stressing the disappearance of the 14-year-old remains a missing persons inquiry.

The development comes as officers expanded the area they are searching in their hunt for clues as to what happened to Alice.

ASHYA EXPECTED TO LEAVE SPAIN SOON

Five-year-old brain tumour patient Ashya King is expected to leave hospital in Spain soon for proton treatment in the Czech Republic.

The director of the Materno Infantil hospital in Malaga, Manuel Paz, told the BBC that Ashya was "ready to leave their care" and said the boy could leave in the early hours of this morning.

A private plane was reported to be waiting at Malaga airport.

ARAB LEAGUE CHIEF SAYS CONFRONT IS

The head of the Arab League has urged its members to confront Islamic State (IS) extremists "militarily and politically".

The apparent call to arms came as President Barack Obama prepares to go to politicians and the American public with his own plan to stop the militants.

Backing from the 22-country Arab League could provide crucial support across the Middle East for Mr Obama's effort to assemble an international coalition against IS, the marauding group that has conquered large parts of Iraq and Syria and committed beheadings and mass killings to sow terror.

UNION BOSS TO ATTACK TORY POLICY

The Conservative Party will today be accused of "reinventing the class system" as workers' pay continues to fall despite economic growth.

In her keynote speech to the TUC Congress in Liverpool, general secretary Frances O'Grady will say that modern Conservatism is the "enemy of aspiration" and that "social mobility has hit reverse".

She will say: "Are we going to settle for a nastier and poorer Britain? A Downton Abbey-style society, in which the living standards of the vast majority are sacrificed to protect the high living of the well-to-do?

1.5 MILLION CHILDREN 'WON'T READ WELL'

Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt, said: "Every child a reader - that is a most basic national ambition.

"But David Cameron's schools policy is taking education standards backwards, with the education attainment gap - the difference between disadvantaged pupils and the rest - on the rise.

"Many parents will be staggered to learn that his government has changed the rules, allowing unqualified teachers to be recruited to work in schools on a permanent basis, leading to a 16 per cent increase in the last year alone.

SIR BRUCE BIDS STRICTLY GOODBYE

Sir Bruce Forsyth bid an emotional goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing as he bowed out of presenting the BBC show.

The veteran presenter announced earlier this year he was quitting after a decade fronting the show, but he made a return to introduce this year's glittering line-up.

Sir Bruce told viewers: "I'll really miss being here with this atmosphere, with Dave and the band and the singer. It is that kind of night for me."

WATCHDOG CHIEF WANTS 'UNRULY PRESS'

The chairman of the new press self-regulation body which begins work today said he understands why some of its opponents regard it as "a fake".

Court of Appeal judge Sir Alan Moses said the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) would deal with "the standards of the press and enforcing the editor's code" as well as specific complaints but would allow "a wild, unruly press".

Sir Alan said he had had "a lot" of contact with campaign group Hacked Off who have branded Ipso "a sham".

RAIL FARES TO RISE BY UP TO 17%

Some rail travellers face fare hikes of up to 117% from today following the axing of some off-peak fares.

The price rise affects some evening services run by the Northern Rail train company - increases that have been criticised by rail unions and campaign groups.

Announced in the summer, the increases come into effect just a day after Chancellor George Osborne announced that he was knocking 1% off the January 2015 national commuter fare rise for England.

SIBLING ROWS LINKED TO SELF HARM

Fights and rows among siblings may be a common occurrence but could lead to serious consequences in later life, new research suggests.

Children who are frequently bullied by their brothers or sisters are more likely to be depressed and even self harm in early adulthood, experts found.

Researchers said that being the victim of bullying by peers is associated with an increased risk of psychological problems and wanted to assess whether the same impact was noted if a person's sibling or siblings were the perpetrators.