Prime Minister David Cameron will invoke the spirit of the London Olympics today as he calls on people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to help save the “most extraordinary country in history”.
The Conservative leader will say Scotland’s referendum “matters to all our futures” and that independence would “rip the rug from under our own reputation”.
He is expected to admit that the result of the vote on September 18 is “still up in the air”, as he urges people south of the border to make it clear to Scots – “we want you to stay”.
Mr Cameron’s biggest speech on Scotland so far this year will be made at the Olympic Park in London.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon branded the prime minister “cowardly” for using the Olympics as a “political tool” and for refusing to debate the issues head to head. Mr Cameron is expected to say: “For me, the best thing about the Olympics wasn’t the winning. It was the red, the white, the blue. It was the summer that patriotism came out of the shadows and into the sun.”
He will say the decision is solely for Scotland, but will add: “My argument today is that, though only 4million people can vote in this referendum, all 63million of us are profoundly affected.
“There are 63million of us who could wake up on September 19 in a different country, with a different future ahead of it. That’s why this speech is addressed not to the people of Scotland, but to the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
Mr Cameron will say: “We have just seven months to do all we can to keep our United Kingdom as one. Seven months to save the most extraordinary country in history.
“Those voting are our friends, neighbours and family. You do have an influence. Let the message ring out from Manchester to Motherwell, from Pembrokeshire to Perth, from Belfast to Bute. From us to the people of Scotland let the message be this: We want you to stay.”
Ms Sturgeon said: “This is a cowardly speech from a prime minister who uses the Olympic Park in London to give high-handed lectures against Scotland’s independence but hasn’t got the guts to come to Scotland or anywhere else to make his case in a head-to-head debate. David Cameron, as the Tory prime minister, is the very embodiment of the democratic case for a Yes vote for an independent Scotland.”
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, First Minister Alex Salmond repeated his call for MR Cameron to engage in a televised debate with him in Aberdeen when the UK and Scottish Cabinets cross paths in the north-east on February 24.
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