We are better off staying together, David Cameron tells Scots
David Cameron will emphasise the benefits of the Union. Picture: Jane Barlow
DAVID Cameron will today make a passionate plea to save the United Kingdom when he travels to Scotland to warn that “our shared home is under threat” from the SNP.
The Prime Minister will make what his office says is a positive case for the Union, describing what he sees as the common heritage, close ties and economic benefits that have held the UK together for 300 years and made it into one of the world’s most successful countries.
On his first visit north of the Border since Alex Salmond unveiled his independence referendum plans, Mr Cameron will underline his personal commitment to maintaining the United Kingdom, saying it is a matter for “head, heart and soul”.
In a keynote speech, Mr Cameron will say that he does not argue for the Union on behalf of the Conservative Party but is speaking as a UK Prime Minister standing up for what he believes in.
Mr Cameron will declare that he believes the United Kingdom is an “inspiring” model for the future and will vow to fight with all his powers to prevent it from breaking up.
After his speech, Mr Cameron will visit Mr Salmond for a meeting that has already caused controversy after Downing Street suggested that it would just be a courtesy visit rather than a discussion over the details of the referendum.
Writing in today’s Scotsman, Mr Cameron claims Scotland and England are growing together – pointing out that “there are now more Scots living in England and English people living in Scotland than ever before”.
In a marked change of tone from previous pro-UK campaigns, the Prime Minister will be at pains to stress what he believes are the benefits of the Union rather than dwelling on the supposed negative aspects of independence.
The speech will seen as an attempt to seize the initiative from the SNP, which based its victory in last year’s election on positive campaigning and has branded the leaders of pro-Union parties as “anti-Scottish”.
In his article, which previews today’s speech, Mr Cameron writes: “The fight is now under way for something really precious: the future of our United Kingdom. I am 100 per cent clear that I will fight with everything I have to keep our United Kingdom together.
“To me this is not some issue of policy or strategy or calculation – it matters head, heart and soul. Our shared home is under threat and everyone who cares about it needs to speak out.”
Mr Cameron acknowledges that Scotland could go on its own if the people decided to do so, but he argues that he believes there are enormous advantages in staying together.
“Of course, there are arguments that can be made about the volatility of dependence on oil, or the problems of debt and a big banking system,” he writes. “But that’s not the point. The best case for the United Kingdom is entirely positive.
“We are better off together. Why? Well, first of all, let’s be practical. Inside the United Kingdom, Scotland – just as much as England, Wales, and Northern Ireland – is safer, richer and fairer.”
Mr Cameron argues that the UK has the world’s fourth- largest defence budget, has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and the seventh-richest economy.
The Prime Minister’s meeting with Mr Salmond to discuss the referendum became a source of tension even before the two men had met. A Downing Street suggestion that Mr Cameron was only meeting Scotland’s First Minister as a “matter of courtesy” raised hackles in Bute House.
Mr Salmond wants to discuss the mechanics of the referendum directly with the Prime Minister, while Downing Street is adamant that discussions on the poll should be held with the Scottish Secretary, Michael Moore.
Earlier this week, Mr Salmond reacted angrily to the inference that Mr Cameron’s visit was a courtesy call, saying: “Courtesy visits are usually what prime ministers do to foreign heads of state – I don’t know if that’s what Downing Street meant to imply.”
The contents of Mr Cameron’s speech will add to the impression that the Prime Minister is more inclined to deal with the big picture arguments for Scotland remaining in the UK than becoming embroiled in the details of the referendum.
Therefore, today’s meeting is unlikely to offer much progress on the sticking points between Edinburgh and London on the poll.
At issue are three fundamentals: the date, the question or questions Scots will be asked and whether the referendum franchise should be extended to include 16 and 17-year-olds.
Of these, the referendum question or questions and the franchise extension remain the most contentious. Mr Salmond is sympathetic to including a question on DevoMax as well as independence but Westminster is insisting on a straight Yes/No vote on independence.
The coalition also does not believe that Mr Salmond’s plan to extend the franchise for the referendum is viable on a one-off basis.
Last night a spokesman for the First Minister said: “If this is the sum total of the Prime Minister’s case against independence, it doesn’t amount to anything for people in Scotland.
“The contrast is clear between the First Minister setting out six practical ways that Scotland can use the financial powers of independence to boost growth and jobs, and Mr Cameron’s threadbare case for an outdated Union.
“The Prime Minister’s remarks ignore the negative impact of his government’s policies on our society, and the damage being done to people’s life chances.
“He talks about the size of the UK economy, when the reality is that an independent Scotland would be the sixth-richest country in the developed world in terms of GDP per head – compared to the UK’s 16th place.
“His remarks are of no consolation to young people with no job prospects because of the UK’s stagnating economy.
“People want positive ideas from politicians to grow the Scottish economy, as the First Minister set out in his LSE speech.
“And the fact that the UK has Trident nuclear weapons of mass destruction dumped in Scotland – and wants to waste another £100 billion on a new generation ‘son of Trident’ system – is of absolutely no consolation to someone with a disability being deprived of their disability living allowance.
“The Prime Minister may try to be positive, but he cannot possibly square this with the unremitting negativity from his party about Scotland on a daily basis.”
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Comments
There are 380 comments to this article
Page 1 of 26
Graeme M
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 04:13 AM375 AULDYIN Rosshire, my great grandfather came for there,in the 1800's. I cannot understand your logic of 'wanting Scotland to be stutus quo'...Where is your courage man?, Scotland has to go it alone no matter what course it takes.At least giving it a try for a few hundred years. Folk like you who sit on your backsides and don't want to rock the boat make me politely ill.Like one of those in the battles that just ran away!...I hope there is not too many so-called Scots like yourself who behaves like a feardie and stuffs it up for those who need and want change. I am not English, damned if I am, never was, never will be...
Graeme M
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 04:01 AM"and made it into one of the world’s most successful countries". Well what country is Mr Cameron talking about?.....As far as the world is concerned, its all England up there!..."What part of England did you come from" I was asked when first arriving in OZ....I don't have to tell you what my reaction was!..But then again, the name England is synonomus with the general factotum.So, its became second nature to see The UK as England...Like the German camp guard saying to the Scot "English swinehund" and the Scot saying back "Scottish swinehund if you don't mind"...Didn't mind being called a swinehund as long as being called English. Its allo not one country, its different countries started by different people. Mr Cameron is only feathering his own nest, he doesn't fool anybody!...Ciama a tha thu. (Cheers).
netcurtains3
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:27 PMJusticetime, You're absolutely right! It was exactly like the old Ealing comedy "Passport to Pimlico". Small group of locals dig up old 13th century documents and declare themselves independent for tax reasons. Prime Minister has to get all serious when the rest of the world can see it for what it is - someone is having a laugh. The old hollywood (or should I say holyrood) legend "King Arthur" (claimed by all parts of the UK) is laughing in his grave. God knows why he felt he needed to go to Edinburgh - he might as well had gone to Basingstoke - He'll probably have met more Scottish people there then he did smouching amongst the English nobs living in New town Edinburgh! The whole situation is a sorry excuse for a joke.
Justicetime
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:21 PMBye David, don't forget your passport next time.
LordEgbutNobacon
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:09 PM" call me Dave " , he of the cast iron EU guarantee , now there`s a man whos word is his bond .
netcurtains3
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:31 AMLets face it the Irish festivals (apart from St Patricks) day probably are not as big as the UK because the BBC does not advertise them or send film crews there. Ireland is the home to perhaps our most prolific writers and poets - you can bet your life, if it was still part of the UK, there would be more "successful" festivals there then here. Cutting yourself off from the BBC will clearly damage the Edinburgh festival as many "stars" or potential stars do want to get noticed by TV. They will drift south. Edinburgh festival attendance: 1,955,913. Saltzberg festival attendance: 251,062 (Edinburgh is nearly 10 times the size).... And please do not call me a unionists (my ancestors are Irish and I do not like the label, I would like to be called anti-separatist or togetherist - or something that is not linked to Ireland or the conservative party - Thank you for your concideration on this matter )
netcurtains3
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:17 AMHuntly Loon, It is factual that people do tend to back their own festivals that is probably why Irelands festivals don't get off the ground apart from St Patricks Day whereas England and Scotland have zillions - everything from Ross-on-wye , Glyndebourne to Latitude. And I noticed you had to skip every single nordic country and most of Northern Europe before you could get to a country that had a festival anywhere near as good as those in the UK. More Vibrant? Mate the UK, is the definition of Vibrancy. Nodica is the definition of an old peoples home (there are more antique shops in Helskini then there are people - thats becaue the young and vibrant part of Nordic youth work in the UK leaving much of the rest to gun toting militarists (every Finnish male has to join up and many have quite large collections of guns)...
Ron Greer
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:35 PM365 Williie Boy, the Perfidious Albion Office is be worried about the Nordic analogues, so expect more of this kind of thing. Wonder if the Salzburg festival would more vibrant if the Anchlus were re-activated?
Huntly Loon
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:29 PMRegarding the Edinburgh Festival, that Englsih and Welsh performers would not turn up if Scotland were independent, really is hardly worthy of comment. People come from all over the world attend the Edinburgh Festival. It is the largest arts festival in the world. English and Welsh people will attend irrespective of the politcal staus of Scotland. Independence will not mean that Scotland is moving to the other side of the world. Edinburgh will be no further from England and Wales than it is now. It will be no more difficult to reach than it is now. The Unionists come out with some of the most bizarre notions. All they are doing is making Unionism look foolish and absurd. The scare stories have already begun to dry up as they have been seen for what they are.
Auld Yin Ross-shire
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:26 PMok Mr Salmond claims he can accrue 1 billion per annum tell me how do our Services - council, education & health get paid for, what happens to our roads (bad enough at present) I need a lot of convincing that to be Independant will bring wealth to Scotland, we do not have oil revenue, prosperous industry and a flush health service and are we to believe this will improve without a healthy generating of money? I am very Scottish and proud to be so but realise think that the uk is perhaps safer than getting involved in the Euro and Mr Salmond would like to lead us there - as himself has stated Erm!
Huntly Loon
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:19 PMDavid Cameron has said if we vote NO, he will come along with an improved Devolution deal. I am sorry, Mr Carmeron, but you must think we button up the back. We got presented with that ruse from the Tories back in the 1970s and nothing happened until Blair came along quarter of a century later. Scots' political folk memories are very long and we have been there before. For Mr Cameron to have any credibility he has to put on the table prior to the referendum Westminster's proposals for substantial new powers. We have been offered Calman and it is alreadfy too little too late. Only firm proposals set in legislation and guaranteed to be implemented prior to the referendum being held will be sufficient for the waverers to vote against independence. It will not happen. And Mr Cameron knows that. Those seeking Devo-max also know that. Even if Devo-max is on the ballot paper those who would favour it know full well that it would not be implemented. That is why the YES vote at the end of the day will pick up the Devo-max supporters, because they know that Westminster will do nothing if the NO vote were to prevail.
Huntly Loon
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:18 PMDavid Cameron has said if we vote NO, he will come along with an improved Devolution deal. I am sorry, Mr Carmeron, but you must think we button up the back. We got presented with that ruse from the Tories back in the 1970s and nothing happened until Blair came along quarter of a century later. Scots' political folk memories are very long and we have been there before. For Mr Cameron to have any credibility he has to put on the table prior to the referendum Westminster's proposals for substantial new powers. We have been offered Calman and it is alreadfy too little too late. Only firm proposals set in legislation and guaranteed to be implemented prior to the referendum being held will be sufficient for the waverers to vote against independence. It will not happen. And Mr Cameron knows that. Those seeking Devo-max also know that. Even if Devo-max is on the ballot paper those who would favour it know full well that it would not be implemented. That is why the YES vote at the end of the day will pick up the Devo-max supporters, because they know that Westminster will do nothing if the NO vote were to prevail.
Mark Bishop
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:21 PMI've posted elsewhere, but Here we go girls and boys! you can now fill out your preferences for the referendum question. Happy deciding! https:consult.scotland.gov.ukscotreferendumconsultationintroview
neoloon
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:20 PMCameron,by saying what he did today,by accident or design,must now come forward with clear and guaranteed "devo-max" proposals before the referendum vote in 2014.To fail to do so will result in the majority of "devo-max" supporters voting Yes for independence. Another victory for Salmond.
netcurtains3
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:12 PMWillie Boy, Your main comment is "Indepence would make Scotland more vibrant". My reply is if you compare Oslo in terms of festivals (books, films, arts, crafts) then Edinburgh NOW is far more vibrant and the vibrancy is linked to Edinburgh sharing the resources of London (eg Scottish National Gallery linked to the Tate and the V&A building in Dundee and loads of ENGLISH and WELSH artists performing in Edinburgh during the festival. In an independent Scotland the English and Welsh stars will drift away as clearly it makes more sense to help ones own countries festivals rather than a different country. Just google festivals in Oslo - Edinburgh is far more vibrant and its vibrancy is definitely, in part due to it being part of the UK.
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