Scottish independence ‘baffles’ foreign nations

In the address in Edinburgh, Mr Hague will also warn that an independent Scotland would lose access to Britain’s expertise in intelligence and security services if it decided to vote “yes” next year.

That, he says, will place a “huge burden” on the Scottish taxpayer as the new country would be required to build up its security and diplomatic infrastructure in order to defend and promote its interests across the world.

However, the SNP last night hit back to argue that Mr Hague should be dealing with the crisis in Syria, rather than “lecture Scots” on independence.

Angus Robertson, the party’s defence spokesman, insisted that an independent Scotland would be able to make the country’s case in a way that met “the aspirations” of the country.

The speech today comes with David Cameron having hosted the G8 summit in Northern Ireland earlier this week. Mr Hague will say that the summit and Britain’s role in deals on tax avoidance is “tangible proof” that the country remains a major player on the global stage.

His intervention comes after a report by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on Scottish independence earlier this year said that a yes vote would end up damaging the UK’s international reputation, and see its influence wane.

For Scotland, the report declared that hew country would become a member of the UN in short order, but it said that far more information was required from the Scottish Government on the risks and costs involved.

Mr Hague argues that a vote for independence would be a vote “for substantial change” on the foreign affairs front.

He will declared: “Travelling from Afghanistan to Brazil, and from Canada to Australia, I encounter bafflement that anyone would try to break up a union that has been so resilient, so successful and so admired as ours.”

He will claim that foreign countries speak “in awe” of the UK’s institutions and culture. Independence, he will say, will create “tremendous burden” with “a different passport for future generations”. He also claims there would be no “automatic entry” to either NATO or the EU. Scotland would also, he says, “lose the benefits that come from having some of the most capable and professional armed forces and intelligence services in the world.”

He will add: “Not only is Scotland safer in the UK, but the UK is one of the world’s leading nations in human rights, development and trade because we stand strongly together: a force for good in the world, with the ability to protect the interests of our citizens at home and abroad.”

However, Mr Robertson hit back: “The test for William Hague is if he will mention the arsenal of nuclear weapons the UK government have in place on the Clyde, 30 minutes from Scotland’s largest city, despite the majority of Scots being vehemently opposed. Or the UK’s role in Iraq- an illegal war which cost the lives of over 100 000 civilians. Or maybe, the recent rendition flights reportedly using Scottish airports- against domestic and international law.”

He added: “Independence offers us the opportunity to make Scotland’s place in the world one that meets the aspirations of our people.”

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