David Cameron: Keeping the UK together is Tories’ top priority

DAVID Cameron has declared there is nothing “more important” to him that keeping the United Kingdom together, as he indicated last night that a deal to kick off Scotland’s referendum on independence will be signed next week.

Speaking to a Scottish reception at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, the Prime Minister said that despite the central issue of economic recovery, the debate about the future of the UK remained would be central to government thinking up until 2014.

“There are lots of things I want this coalition to achieve. But frankly, it is hard to think of anything more important to a Conservative than keeping our United Kingdom together,” he told delegates last night.

Cameron is set to make his keynote speech to the party conference tomorrow ahead of a meeting with First Minister Alex Salmond next week when the pair are expected to agree a deal on the terms of the referendum.

Mr Cameron said last night he had always been flexible on the timing of the date – which will be held to Mr Salmond’s preferred timetable – but said the “red line” for him had been to ask a single question on whether Scotland should be independent. Mr Salmond had asked people whether they wanted a second question offering a “devo-max” option, but has also stated he prefers a single question.

The Prime Minister confirmed he would be meeting Mr Salmond “relatively shortly”. In a message he said was aimed both at English members of the audience as well as Scots, he argued that Scottish independence would damage the rest of the UK.

“We want to Scotland to stay for the rest of us. We want Scotland to stay because we believe we would be weaker apart,” he said.