Dr Meryl Kenny, of the University of Leicester, says having women leading the SNP, Labour and the Conservatives would be a "ground-breaking moment in Scottish politics" which "stands in very sharp contrast to the men in suits at Westminster".

However, she says there is "still a long way to go for women's representation in Scottish politics".

John Beattie on BBC Radio Scotland is discussing the prospect of Scotland having its first female First Minister in Nicola Sturgeon.

Conservative MSP Annabel Goldie says Ms Sturgeon is a "very capable operator".

She says it will be a "really interesting dynamic if she takes office", with three women heading up the three of the main parties in the Parliament.

"They're all three different characters, which is what I find interesting."

Andy Murray is "unquestionably loyal" to Great Britain", says the Lawn Tennis Association after he was criticised for supporting Scottish independence.

Image source, Getty Images

The online abuse directed at Murray after he declared his backing for the "yes" campaign was described as "vile".

Danny Alexander has told BBC News that whichever main Westminster party is elected will give more powers to Scotland as one of its first acts.

The chief secretary to the treasury said ministers were already working on plans and fully intent to keep to the timetable set out by Gordon Brown.

Mr Alexander said: "The timetable we set out, which we set out during the final stages of the referendum campaign, involved a heads of agreement by St Andrews day, that's what Lord Smith has been set out to do.

"It involved then putting forward draft clauses for the legislation that we would all agree to and setting that out in legislation that would then be agreed to and followed by whichever party of combo or parties is in government after the election."

With votes for 16-year-olds on the agenda since the referendum, at what age do people get the vote in other countries?

According to a Parliamentary briefing published in May, external:

"The voting age for national elections in EU countries is 18, except for Austria where it was reduced to 16 in 2007."

The Isle of Man and Jersey have lowered their voting age in national elections to 16, while 16-year-olds also get the vote in Brazil and Argentina.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw has said Nicola Sturgeon's campaign launch "confirms that a vote for the SNP in 2016 is a vote for another independence referendum".

He added: "It's more important the Scottish Government does that than reflects on its broken dream. People have moved on, the SNP must too."

As Nicola Sturgeon launches her bid for SNP leadership, what are your views on the way ahead for her party? Let us know by email

This morning's newspapers have been giving their verdict on David Cameron's comments about the Queen's response to the referendum result - which were caught on camera.

According to the Daily Mail, external, Mr Cameron - who was chatting to ex-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg - will have to apologise to the Queen, while in the the Mirror, former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond describes it as a "huge blunder".

There is more reaction in the BBC's review of the English editions.

David McKay of Portknockie says: The power to give the Scottish Parliament extra powers to raise taxes in Scotland to protect our welfare services in Scotland against cuts in the rest of the UK, because of Westminster's obsession with a low tax economy, raises the spectre of increased benefit tourism within the UK.

We already have a substantial migration north of retired people in search of the better quality of life in Scotland and free personal care for the elderly...There are potential downsides to a being a caring society.

John Beattie
BBC Scotland

As @NicolaSturgeon launches bid I will be joined by Annabel Goldie, Susan Deacon, Pauline McNeill and Dr Meryl Kenny to discuss at 12.30.

Writing about the Commons motion on more powers for Holyrood at the website politics.co.uk, external, Alex Stevenson says: "This has technically, er, not happened yet. Gordon Brown originally promised that the motion would be tabled last Friday.

"In his post-referendum speech in Dalgety Bay in Fife on Saturday, he moved the goalposts again. 'Published yesterday, the resolution to Parliament will be laid formally when it opens its doors on Monday,' Brown declared."

But he concludes: "The reality is that this is the sort of minor detail which is likely to get lost in the wash. The text of the resolution has been published and agreed to - it's actually what the bulk of the remaining timetable is based on."

With Nicola Sturgeon launching her bid to replace Alex Salmond as SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland, Andrew Black looks at the politician and examines what sort of leader she could be.

Image source, Reuters

Departing First Minister Alex Salmond has called for the voting age in UK elections to be lowered to 16 by the 2015 General Election, following the success of 16 and 17-year-olds having the vote at the Scottish independence referendum.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has said his party would give all 16 and 17-year-olds the vote.

Image source, David Cheskin

So should the voting age be lowered? Vanessa Barford explores the issue.

Key things Nicola Sturgeon said at the launch of her campaign to be SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland:

• She will work with other parties to deliver more powers for the Scottish Parliament. But she said there are "worrying signs" powers promised will not be delivered.

• Scotland could only become independent if the electorate backed the move in a referendum.

• The election of a party with a commitment to a second referendum in their manifesto would be a mandate to hold another . Ms Sturgeon would not rule out the policy being in the SNP's manifesto in 2016.

• Ms Sturgeon will not endorse a deputy and hopes somebody runs against her for the leadership.

• She will be a first minister for the "whole of Scotland" if elected.

Daily Record

The Daily Record reports today, external that Alex Salmond was confident of a victory in the referendum because of information he was given by Canadian experts.

Analysis of "secret opinion polling" led the First Minister to believe 54% of Scots would back a "Yes" vote in the vote, the paper reports.

Sturgeon: "If there is a commitment to a referendum in a manifesto of the SNP at an election and we win that election then that is a mandate for a referendum."

Ms Sturgeon says she does not accept that the SNP was "sitting idly by" and not using the powers it already has available. She cites the extension of childcare by the Scottish Government as an example.

"We are using every power and resource at our disposal to try and make the biggest difference."

Andrew Black
Political reporter, BBC Scotland

.@NicolaSturgeon says she would relish a leadership contest, as opposed to being the only candidate.

Discussing her successor as Deputy Leader of the SNP, Ms Sturgeon says: "I've made a decision that I will not endorse a Deputy Leader candidate. There will be no joint ticket.

"I think it is important that the party gets a free choice."

She says she believes the party will be offered a "very healthy and good choice."

Ms Sturgeon says that if elected, she would be First Minister "for all of Scotland".

She says she is "very proud" to be a Glasgow resident and an MSP for the city, but adds: "A first minister is not elected to represent one part of the country."