IT is a Chinese blessing or a curse upon nations that they live in interesting times.

For the people of Hampshire, indeed the whole of the United Kingdom, these are interesting days.

Over the next 24 hours we will learn whether our nation is to remain united or to be split apart.

The fact the people of this region along, this paper suspects, with most of the population of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, only awoke to the fact they faced possible huge changes to their nationhood a mere two weeks ago when polls in the referendum on Scottish independence narrowed dramatically, underscores the fact we have had little say in the process.

Today, then, we are bystanders as a small minority of our fellow citizens are allowed the chance to decide our fate.

How we reached this unjust position is just one of the questions that will have to be answered whatever the result when it is announced tomorrow.

If Scotland does leave the Union then we will have watched impotently as one of the most momentous events in our history unfolded.

This paper is on record as stating we hope Scotland remains and the Union continues.

If that does not happen and we awake tomorrow to find we are to separate, we will have lost something precious.