Cameron urges Scotland to stay in UK
UK prime minister cancels London parliamentary debate to travel to Scotland, as polls show push for independence rising.
David Cameron appealed to the Scottish people not to vote for independence in next week’s referendum after an opinion poll showed a surge in support for a break from the United Kingdom.
The UK’s prime minister on Tuesday pledged to do everything he could to keep his country together, as he traveled to Scotland after cancelling Wednesday’s weekly parliamentary debate in London.
“In the end, it is for the Scottish people to decide, but I want them to know that the rest of the United Kingdom – and I speak as prime minister – want them to stay.”
“Tomorrow the right place to be isn’t in Westminster at prime minister’s questions, it’s being in Scotland listening to people, talking to people,” said Cameron, the leader of the Conservative party.
Cameron, his Liberal Democrat ally Nick Clegg and opposition leader Ed Milliband, of Labour, issued a joint statement on the decision: “There is a lot that divides us – but there’s one thing on which we agree passionately: the United Kingdom is better together.”
The statement made clear that the break-up of the UK was now a distinct possibility. Scots vote on the future of a 307-year union on September 18.
A poll by TNS this week suggested 39 percent would vote “no” to independence, down six percentage points in a month.
“Yes” support was slightly behind at 38 percent, up six percentage points in the same period.
Alex Salmond, Scottish first minister, said in Edinburgh that recent polls showed the people of Scotland wanted independence, and that the opposing campaign had “fallen apart at the seams”.