Hague’s warning to Scots

Scottish independence would damage the UK’s influence in international security decisions, William Hague has warned.

The Foreign Secretary told MPs and peers last night that breaking away would have “strategic and security implications” for each of the four nations.

The potential problems have been discussed at length twice in recent months by the Cabinet, he told the joint committee on national security strategy.

He added: “It would be damaging to some extent to the ability of all the component parts of the United Kingdom … to achieve the enhanced or maintained influence I’m talking about.

“It would be particularly damaging to the part of the country that was no longer part of the United Kingdom.”