Stay with UK, Cameron urges Scots
Source: Agencies |
February 17, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
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BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron delivered an impassioned plea to the Scots yesterday in defense of the United Kingdom, enticing Scotland to reject independence with an offer to devolve more power to Edinburgh.
Scotland's nationalist regional government, which already controls some areas of spending, wants to hold a referendum in late 2014 on full independence that could spell an end to a 300-year-old union with England.
Cameron took his case for keeping the UK intact to Scotland's capital, arguing in a speech laced with sentimental historical references that Scotland was better off as part of the union. "The union helps to make Scotland stronger, safer, richer and fairer," he told a business audience, speaking against a panorama backdrop of Edinburgh castle, perched on a craggy volcano. "Of course, Scotland could govern itself. So could England, but we do it so much better together."
He warned Scotland would face an uncertain economic future alone. "There is for some smaller nations the risk that independence can actually lead to greater dependence," he said.
Cameron later began talks with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, to thrash out differences over the timing and content of the referendum Salmond wants to hold on independence.
Salmond, a wily politician, appeared to have won a tactical advantage by hosting Cameron on his home ground while Cameron had to make the long journey from London.
As Salmond shook hands with Cameron and ushered him into a government office, the meeting had every appearance of talks between the leaders of two independent countries.
In his speech, Cameron dangled the carrot that, if Scots rejected full independence, he would be open to looking at what further powers could be devolved from London to Edinburgh, but he did not spell out what they were.
Salmond was sceptical, telling the BBC: "If the prime minister has an offer to make to the people of Scotland then ... he should spell it out now."
Scotland has its own legal system and already has devolved responsibility for domestic matters, such as health, education and emergency services.
Polls suggest between 30 and 40 percent of Scots support independence. The SNP hopes it can increase that by 2014, when national pride may be boosted by the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, a famous victory over the English.
Scotland's nationalist regional government, which already controls some areas of spending, wants to hold a referendum in late 2014 on full independence that could spell an end to a 300-year-old union with England.
Cameron took his case for keeping the UK intact to Scotland's capital, arguing in a speech laced with sentimental historical references that Scotland was better off as part of the union. "The union helps to make Scotland stronger, safer, richer and fairer," he told a business audience, speaking against a panorama backdrop of Edinburgh castle, perched on a craggy volcano. "Of course, Scotland could govern itself. So could England, but we do it so much better together."
He warned Scotland would face an uncertain economic future alone. "There is for some smaller nations the risk that independence can actually lead to greater dependence," he said.
Cameron later began talks with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, to thrash out differences over the timing and content of the referendum Salmond wants to hold on independence.
Salmond, a wily politician, appeared to have won a tactical advantage by hosting Cameron on his home ground while Cameron had to make the long journey from London.
As Salmond shook hands with Cameron and ushered him into a government office, the meeting had every appearance of talks between the leaders of two independent countries.
In his speech, Cameron dangled the carrot that, if Scots rejected full independence, he would be open to looking at what further powers could be devolved from London to Edinburgh, but he did not spell out what they were.
Salmond was sceptical, telling the BBC: "If the prime minister has an offer to make to the people of Scotland then ... he should spell it out now."
Scotland has its own legal system and already has devolved responsibility for domestic matters, such as health, education and emergency services.
Polls suggest between 30 and 40 percent of Scots support independence. The SNP hopes it can increase that by 2014, when national pride may be boosted by the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, a famous victory over the English.
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