SCOTTISH Secretary Michael Moore has led for the UK government during the lengthy talks with SNP ministers this year.
As a Liberal Democrat Scottish MP, Mr Moore has been seen as a politician SNP ministers felt more able to do business than with Tory members of the coalition.
David Cameron has been happy to allow Mr Moore to be the face of the UK government and to effectively be Westminster’s man during the many rounds of talks with SNP Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond.
Mr Cameron will have been acutely aware that having a Tory MP fronting the UK government’s team would been a provocative move making it all the more difficult to deliver a deal on the referendum.
Mr Moore is widely viewed to have played a key role in the process by avoiding taking a hard line over issues such as the timing of the referendum and votes for 16- and 17-year olds, which he has personally supported. The Prime Minister may leave him in the role in the run-up to the vote.