A senior Labour front-bencher who was born in Inverness has admitted that the UK does not “feel fixed” in the wake of Scotland’s referendum.
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, pledged to work to deliver a “fair deal” for all regions of Britain following the historic vote.
Ms Cooper was born in the Highland capital but raised in England, and is married to shadow chancellor Ed Balls.
In her keynote speech to the Labour conference in Manchester, she said: “Born in Scotland, brought up in England, I am so glad our United Kingdom stayed together.
“And though we’ve argued, seen strong passions, – many of the Yes and No voters I talked to weren’t as far apart as you’d think.
“The Yes voter who told me she just didn’t want a Tory Government ever, ever, ever again. Conference, we’re all with her on that one.
“Or the No voter who told me he was confused because he was born in London and now lived in Glasgow – would he need to get two passports before he went on his summer holiday?
“Two passports? Frankly after this summer’s Tory passport fiasco, he’d be lucky to get one off Theresa May.”
Calling for the country to come together, she added: “Last week our proud nation nearly broke. We’re still together. But we don’t feel fixed.
“People feeling insecure, anxious, pessimistic. Powerless, ignored, let down. Feeling buffeted by globalisation and abandoned by government.
“Demanding change in our economy so it works for working people. Demanding change in our politics, devolving power. Wanting a fair deal for Wales, for Scotland, for Northern Ireland and for England. A fair deal for north and south.”