Cameron Sets Appeal for Scots to Remain in U.K.

16.02.2012

London

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron will appeal to the emotions of Scots on Thursday, telling them he will fight against Scottish independence with everything he has in order keep the U.K. together.

The prime minister, who will meet with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond during his visit to Edinburgh to discuss the issue of independence, will tell the Scots that independence would put the "shared home" of the U.K. under threat, and that everyone who cares about it needs to speak out.

"The fight is now under way for something really precious: the future of our United Kingdom," Mr. Cameron will say, according to extracts of his speech. "To me, this is not some issue of policy or strategy or calculation—it matters head, heart and soul."

The prime minister's visit to Scotland comes after Mr. Salmond—a staunch proponent of independence—Wednesday argued that the economic case for independence was "absolutely clear."

In a speech at the London School of Economics, Mr. Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National Party, said an independent Scotland that remained in a sterling monetary union with the rest of the U.K. would give the nation the fiscal powers it needs to promote economic growth, create jobs and build a fairer society.

"Scotland is not immune from current global economic challenges," he said. "But once we are equipped with the same powers that independent countries around the world take for granted we will be very well-placed to thrive economically in the years to come."

Mr. Salmond and his SNP gained a large majority in the Edinburgh Parliament in May and vowed to hold a referendum on independence within a few years. He has set the date for the poll for the fall of 2014, not long after the Scots celebrate the 700th anniversary of a famous victory over the English at Bannockburn.

Yet Edinburgh has found itself at loggerheads over the poll with London, which wants to preserve the 300-year-old union and insists only it has the constitutional power to call a legally binding vote. Mr. Cameron wants the referendum held as soon as possible to capitalize on lukewarm Scottish support for independence amid the U.K.'s economic gloom.

The prime minister will argue Thursday that Scotland would be richer staying within the U.K., as the nation's five million people are part of an economy of 62 million, which is the seventh-richest economy in the world and one of the biggest trading powers.

Mr. Cameron will also argue that Scotland would be safer remaining part of the U.K. because the country has the fourth-largest defense budget in the world. And he will say that the U.K. as a whole is stronger, because together it counts for more in the world, allowing it to have a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and clout in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Europe.

"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," Mr. Cameron will say about independence. "But that's not the point. The best case for the United Kingdom is entirely positive. We are better off together."