David Cameron has said he is ready fight for the life of the United Kingdom, as he set out his reasons why he believes Scotland should not become independent.
Speaking in Edinburgh on Thursday afternoon, the prime minister said the break-up of the UK would create "artificial barriers between" England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"Our Union isn’t some antique imposition. It’s living, free and adaptable. It’s admired around the world as a source of prosperity, power and security," he said.
"In an increasingly uncertain world, where risks proliferate and atomisation threatens our ability to look out for one another nothing encapsulates the principle of pooling risk, sharing resources and standing together with your neighbour better than the United Kingdom.
He added: "I'm ready for the fight for our country's life."
Cameron was speaking ahead of a meeting with Scottish first minister Alex Salmond to discuss the terms of a referendum, due to be held in 2014.
In his speech he acknowledged that the Conservative Party was not incredibly popular in Scotland, it has only one MP north of the English border, and said he had to show a "little humility".
But he dismissed suggestions that he would be happier to see Scotland break away as it would make it easier for him to form a majority government in Westminster as the prime minister of just England.
"I'm not interested, I don't care, that's not the job I want," he said.
"I’m not here to make a case on behalf of my party," he added. "It is time to speak out, whatever the consequences, because something very special is in danger - the ties which bind us in the country we call home."
He said Scottish voters should not choose to leave to UK based on an attachment to "ancient myths, blood-soaked memories and opposition to others".
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David Cameron has said he is ready fight for the life of the United Kingdom, as he set out his reasons why he believes Scotland should not become independent.
Speaking in Edinburgh on Thursday afte...
David Cameron has said he is ready fight for the life of the United Kingdom, as he set out his reasons why he believes Scotland should not become independent.
Speaking in Edinburgh on Thursday afte...
As an Englishman and an Irishman - but a Briton first - I look upon this debate with the despondency of one who wishes the United Kingdom could have remained wider still. The sadness of division in Ireland, both within and without, is nothing to envy. We, the British people, are greater than the sum of our parts. Let us fight, wherever we are, for our shared national home.
Salmond stands accused of treason and should be dealt with appropriately if break of UK occurs. He is not doing it for anything more than personal aggrandisement. He really believes he will sit with the leaders of Europe as head of Scotland probably wearing the helmet of William Wallace.
lapparsonage: Salmond stands accused of treason and should be dealt with
Oh aye and you will be the one to "deal" with him would you, let me know when as i'd love to see you try.
He is a legitimate politician who has simply tried to deliver on what his legit supporters elected him to do.
If you dont like democracy i suggest you move to Libya, maybe you can tackle them before wastemonster decides to send our lad's there.
Treason! what a wally, honestly are you for real!
In case you are interested in reality, no one is suggesting that the union of the crowns is broken, just the political union and since Scotland is a soverine nation and always was, there is nothing you can do about that.
It was supposed to be tongue in cheek!! Dont forget it was a Scottish king that took Scotland to England and a mighty good job he did except for starting the Covenant War, which we won anyway. Also as for those disagreeing with his policies he had a great way of dealing with them., Ask the Elliots of Liddesdale, if you can find any because he hung most of them. I still think that the first in first minister means Salmond first and everything else inc Scotland second.
lapparsonage: It was supposed to be tongue in cheek!! Dont forget
The sure way to ensure a vote in favour of full independence is for Cameron to keep visiting Scotland. All the evidence is that the majority of Scots cannot stand him.
Grestoick: The sure way to ensure a vote in favour of
Salmond has power because he is supported by a great many Scottish voters, does democracy not matter to you? it does to us, that's why he is supported here!
The union will still exist in the union of the crown's, why is political domination of Scotland so important to you?
DPICT: Salmond has power because he is supported by a great
Worked well for hundreds of years ?? Is that why the UK is in debt of over a trillions and rising?
The independence issue has been around far longer than Mr Salmond, try researching a little bit.
Allyb999: Worked well for hundreds of years ?? Is that why
Politicians are somehing else, Alec Salmon is looking for a middle of the road solution, He wants to eat his cake and have it. He is riding the wave of patrotic nationalism just for more power esspecially over the resources of Scotland. He also wants to keep the the support and patronage of UK.
For Peace sake , somebody should change his job title to Premier of Scotland and give him power over scotish taxes but of course reduce UK's financial commiment to Scotland.
The man is governed by ego and personal ambtion, pragmatic scots will not vote for independence . He must secede now if he means business you can't tell your parents you want to leave home and tell them you still want your mum to do your washing and sunday lunch and occasinally borrow dad's car , keep your name on his insurance, you can't stand his winging , you want him to pick you up when you are too drunk to drive or have a break down. You are so good you don't like his authority but you will leave home at your own time and on your own terms. Mean while you are winging about his authority . You will only leave home when you have a good job with big earnings.
You should leave now if you are big enough and let your ailing father plan his pension with the rest of your sibblings, You have your driving licence drive off.
abelum: Politicians are somehing else, Alec Salmon is looking for a
None of the `top` politicians will have any real power once all the EU edicts have been carried out, Salmond will be responsible to Brussels, as will Cameron and whoever becomes the Welsh leader. All will simply carry out orders from the EU.
bgbhough: None of the `top` politicians will have any real power
Face it the loss of tax revenues from Scotland will be the final nail in the coffin for this country
Camerons vat hike in the midst of a recession was one of the clues ,get them used to paying even higher taxes ,case in point high street shops are closing down at an alarming rate but what is being done about the business rates ,=they just keep going up the result is the high streets are just into free fall .
Road tax for cars are going up because of the governments brilliant idear of setting the CO2 levels so low even the manufactures cant make the engines that comply ,so the high majority find out that they have been forced into a much higher road tax bracket ,the idear is get as much money as possible ,but this kind of greed and desperation will only cause even more cracks in the system .
oobuc5: Face it the loss of tax revenues from Scotland will
Maybe there wouldnt be such a fuss made about some scots wanting to be independent of the UK if the british government didnt run the whole thing into the ground, present and past governments included in that
JB101: Maybe there wouldnt be such a fuss made about some
Just to remind me, could someone tell me the last time one of the Heirs to the throne chose to get married in Scotland as a sign of the importance of the Union - or do they just visit for the shooting 'n fishing ?
GearoidOD: Just to remind me, could someone tell me the last
Am I correct in thinking that the EU insists that Britain has to be
divided into four seperate areas?
ie Scotland / Wales / Yorksire Ridings / England?
Hence Salmond calling for independence, is simply carrying out a
EU edict, if so, the Scottish people should be warned about this,
they may get independence from England but not from Brussels!
He would probably adopt the Euro as well.
And is David Cameron simply `pretending to protest` when he also
knows it is what the EU wants?
Basically are most EU supporters who are in government a fifth
column dedicated to a federal Europe?
Not caring a jot for the long term effect on their countrymen.
After Scotland! Wales? Britain would end up with four more
manageable areas, each with a vichy government, as in France
during WWII, making EU control easier.
bgbhough: Am I correct in thinking that the EU insists that
LOL! Yes you are so right. What comes out of Camerons mouth does not necessarily mean what he says. There is always a reason hidden behind everything he does.
Joe_Joe_P: LOL! Yes you are so right. What comes out of
I think you are correct about Mr Cameron, we have so many politicians who are keen for a federal Europe but don`t admit it to us. Once the EU base is moved from Brussels to Berlin then Angela Merkel will have done what Hitler failed to do, without a shot being fired!!
bgbhough: I think you are correct about Mr Cameron, we have
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Cornwall will benefit from the unravelling of a Union way past its sell by date. A much better model is the loose Scandinavian model where the member states come together, when their interests overlap, but also maintain their
Independence. Small states are far more successful than their larger counterparts in economic terms as well as delivering policies specific to the needs of their people.
Relationships between States and People regularly change and the days of the UK being one of the most over- centralised States in the western world are coming to an end. The UK state serves to benefit a small rich elite mainly in the South East of England which is why the UK has one of the highest levels of poverty of any OECD state.
It also has the dubious accolade along with Mexico of having the highest level of regional inequality among developed nations. Rip-off Britain is broken and it is time to replace it, starting with Scottish Independence, with a more modern arrangement that will prove the sum of the parts are greater than the whole. Far from being detrimental to the relationship between the various Countries of the UK, I believe respect for each others similarities and differences will increase.
I sincerely hope the Scots vote yes for in so doing they will start a long overdue process of modernisation and renewal in the UK as a whole. Best of luck Scotland, bring it on!!
Britnot: Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Cornwall will benefit from
It is unusal to see a person with such perception on this website . I can only thank you for your input. Although a firm independence supporter, I was personaly unaware of the Scandinavian model. It would be of assisatnce to me, if we have further contact.
victorganderson: It is unusal to see a person with such perception
Alex Salmond is a mear politician, a civil servant just like Cameron.
Un-like Cameron however he actually tries to deliver what he promises.
You are quite astute however to work out that he is against a United Kingdom, well done, however can you point out anything other than the blindingly obvious.
Oh and someone must have voted for him eh.
DPICT: Alex Salmond is a mear politician, a civil servant just
Cash for Questions!
Cash for Honors!
Expenses rip off!
Dodgey coalition goverment!
Broken promises on things as important as a referendum on europe!
Unelected peers ruling on important political issues in a supposed democracy!
Misshandling of banking and the wider economy on an enormous scale!
Misshandling of immigration on an equally enormous scale!
Continuing the failed drug war with it's horrific cost in terms of money and human suffering!
Wasting huge sums of cash on overseas aid on countrys which often dont want or need the money.
Took me five minutes to come up with that small list, there is much much more i could add but what is the point if people choose to be ignorant.
I can not ignore these issues and am the opinion that the union government is morally bankrupt, i can draw no other conclusion.
I support independant goverment for Scotland, some of my reasons are cultural, not many though.
DPICT: Cash for Questions! Cash for Honors! Expenses rip off! Dodgey
English people were there for you when your goverment was bankcrupted by the panamainian straight , but you say bailout on the union when England is baring the scars of a scottish chancellor . xxxxxx labour party caused the problems you list above for xxxx sake .
verycross: English people were there for you when your goverment was
I suggest you read the list before commenting mr verycross.
The Darrien project failed for various reasons, the Scott's who you say were bailed out were not the skint masses, they were a handfull of our richest scum who sold out their entire country for English gold, the people where never asked.
I've said it before but Labour and Tory are different sides of the same coin, both created the mess we are now in.
Brown is a unionist first and foremost, loyal to his paymaster, westminster/warminster/wastemonster - whatever you call the place.
He is just a symptom, not the whole disease.
DPICT: I suggest you read the list before commenting mr verycross.
and the Tory party are putting it right? how, by attacking the disabled and those long term unemployed, thrown on the scrapheap by Mad Maggie as she sold out our industrial heritage to the bloody germans. This country became great through industry, not banking, the Scots SNP politicians will reinvigorate their industrial heartlands while our Tories will continue to grow the dole queues in their quest for cheap labour. Theres many of us around the UK "verycross" at what the politicians are doing, only blinkered Tories like yourself cant see it, regardless GB's nationality the labour party didn't cause worldwide meltdown in the banking industry, their own incompetence did but its us mugs who've ended up paying the price for it. Thanks to the Tories no-one will retire before they die, if they're unfit to work they'll starve or die of the cold, guess whose all in it together you mug.
Sickofpoliticians2: and the Tory party are putting it right? how, by
For coalition read LABOUR. Sit down, take a breather, and stick your head on the Stone of Scone, then you might get your facts right, but I doubt it.
By the way, it's the right of the Scottish people to vote for what they want. It is not a prerequisite for others to have a reason, or for their opinion.
alanjk: For coalition read LABOUR. Sit down, take a breather, and
I was referring to the current coalition, read CON/DEM, sit up, pay head.
What fact's do i have wrong then eh, both labour and the tory's have got us to this point and neither have seriously tried to address any of the points i have raised.
I do agree it's for the Scott's to decide, dont need a stone for that one.
DPICT: I was referring to the current coalition, read CON/DEM, sit
We could be a United Kingdom if we didn't have the ball and chain of Europe and could refuse entry to all the scum that they send to ''dustbin'' Britain! I think that if the Scots get the seperation they would like they would immediatly get rid of Europe and they would deport all the scum that are not willing to put in to society.
nicholspongo: We could be a United Kingdom if we didn't have
As a State the united Kingdom is so intertwined in terms of its population, especially family bonds, is it really right to say these bonds mean nothing anymore, and we should all turn the clock back 300 years or more and sink back into race isolationism.
Surely there is a much more solid historic relationship here at stake that transcends Tartan, Whiskey, Haggis, Burns or the cultural identities of the rest of the United Kingdom.
As (separate) cultural entities we pool our efforts to a common purpose and, as a united body we face the challenges in a competitive hostile World. We have done this so successfully for hundreds of years we are recognised as a very powerful united group of people, who as a tiny island can, and have projected our power around the entire globe.
Do we destroy all this accumulated success to satisfy a romantic cultural difference that has to be satisfied for activists, or so made a special case of to the detriment of its people, and the rest of the UK community.
Please, ignore political differences both the sides of the border, and short term personalities, and think of the common good for all not the few.
REVLAC: As a State the united Kingdom is so intertwined in
Oh how i wish it was only cultural differences, like when i used to regularly visit an elderly relative in Kent, shop keepers would refuse to take my "funny money", even calling the police once to report me for daring to hand over my Scottish pounds in their shops, there where many highly embarrasing moments like this over the years, simply because i refused to change my notes for bank of England ones of the same value and legallity, some do however to avoid the inevitable embarrasing sceen's.
There are many factors behind the ambition to run your own affairs, whether you are an individual or a nation such as Scotland, no one here including myself believes that it is simply cultural reasons behind the independance movement, it is a factor, but it's not not the whole picture by a long shot.
How would you like it if the situation where reversed and Scotland had the larger population and held the seat of government and crown? would you like to get the government that the Scott's voted for ruling you, sending your lad off to fight in far off lands to bring THEM democracy, meanwhile back home you dont get the government you voted for because the commons is dominated by Scottish MP's who vastly out number your English MP's.
Unlikely i know but thats how it is for Scotland, try living here for a while, sober and with your eyes open.
DPICT: Oh how i wish it was only cultural differences, like
I agree with very much of what you say, but because of irreconcilable differences in policies , some of which you must know Scotland thinks immoral , the best form of agreement is seperation.
Then, we can still have a relationship with Westminster , but would not be bound by the `public schoolboy, leave Eaton and the UK` type idiocy that England seems to like. This mentality, should be for England only , if the Scots disagree with it. David Cameron will not ` save the UK ` . It was lost before he realised it.( or ignored it )
Hence his predicted reception in Scotland this week .
victorganderson: I agree with very much of what you say, but
maybe the scots are tired of projecting their bodies all around the world only to see the profit all return to London ? Judging by the pejorative abuse aimed salmond and Co here on Huff, I would say the solid historic relationship was soured a long time ago.
GearoidOD: maybe the scots are tired of projecting their bodies all
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First Posted: 16/02/2012 13:48 Updated: 16/02/2012 16:00