Cameron denies 'yes' vote would force him out of No 10

Will David Cameron resign if Scotland votes "yes" to independence?

The prime minister has been asked the question twice during the last 24 hours - and given similar replies. Today, he told Radio 4's Today: "Absolutely not. I think it's important people know that because the vote is simply about one thing: does Scotland stay in the United Kingdom or does it separate from the United Kingdom It is not about anything else."

Yesterday, when asked by the BBC's Norman Smith if he would resign, he said: ""No and I think it is very important people understand that because it is not my name or anyone else's name on the ballot paper."

He added: "Of course, I want to see Scotland stay in the United Kingdom but I faced a choice in 2011 when the Scottish nationalists were elected to run the Scottish government. Do you have a referendum or do you have some massive fight with them saying 'no, no you can't possibly have this choice'?

"I thought the right thing to do, and this was backed by the other parties at the time, and I remain of the view it was the right thing to do, was to give the Scottish people a fair, legal and decisive referendum. That's what will happen.

"It was absolutely the right decision. You have to decide the prior question as it were - does Scotland want to stay in the United Kingdom or separate itself from the United Kingdom? Once you have settled that question, then you can properly engage with future acts of devolution - on which again I have a pretty good track record. We have a massive act of devolution coming through right now giving the Scottish parliament far more power to spend money as it chooses."

Had the prime minister given the alternative response - "yes, of course I'd go" - then it would have raised the (already high) stakes in the referendum and given supporters of independence an argument to sell to voters who don't like David Cameron.

The prime minister's future is an issue that has been bubbling away during the referendum campaign. Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards has long argued that it is "inconceivable" David Cameron could survive in Downing Street if the Scots vote "yes". He has also suggested a vote for independence would lead to either a snap election or a caretaker government, although the former would presumably require an amendment to the Fixed Term Parliaments Act or Conservative MPs to vote for an election in less than ideal circumstances for their party.

Many questions about the consequences of September's referendum - such as the impact on Wales - can't be answered definitively until the votes have been counted. The prime minister's approach is supported by Monmouth Tory MP David Davies, who chairs the Welsh affairs committee. He tweeted: "If Scots want a say over who is PM they should vote 2 stay in Union. Hope they do-but not PM's fault if they vote out."

David Cameron must hope other Tory backbenchers agree - although if the Scots reject independence presumably the politician under most pressure to fall on his sword would be Alex Salmond.