Prime Minister David Cameron speaks during a visit to Scottish Widows offices in Edinburgh. Photo: Andrew Milligan/PADavid Cameron has made an impassioned plea to keep Scotland part of the union, saying he would be “heartbroken” if the UK was torn apart.
During a visit to Scottish Widows offices in Edinburgh, the Prime Minister said he cared “far more about his country than his party”.
Mr Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband are all in Scotland on separate visits in a bid to persuade Scots to vote ‘No’ to independence on September 18, offering instead a fast-tracked timetable for further devolution.
Mr Cameron said: “I care far more about my country than I do about my party.
“I care hugely about this extraordinary country, this United Kingdom that we’ve built together
“I would be heartbroken if this family of nations that we’ve put together was torn apart.”
He told an audience: “I like to think the Better Together campaign has made some very strong arguments of the head.
“But I think it’s also important we make those arguments of the heart, we talk about what we care about and how we feel about this amazing country, the United Kingdom, that we’ve built together.”
I care hugely about this extraordinary country, this United Kingdom that we’ve built together
He warned the referendum is not about kicking the Tories, and that a ‘Yes’ vote is a decision about the next century.
He said: “Because it is an election people think it’s like a general election. If you are fed up with the Tories, give them a kick.
“This is not a decision about the next five years, but the next century.
“This vote is not about whether Scotland is a nation or not – Scotland is a nation. It’s a strong, proud nation with an extraordinary history and incredibly talented people.
“But it is a nation that has chosen over the past 300 years to be part of a family of nations.
“A family of nations that enables this great country to punch way above its weight in the world. This vote is not about Scotland versus Britain, it’s about two competing visions for Scotland.
“I hope you choose the vision of Scotland that is about Scottish pride, Scottish patriotism, Scottish nationhood, but is also about being part of the family of nations we have created.”
Speaking on the issue of more powers in the event of a no vote, the Prime Minister pledged there would be “rapid and very comprehensive moves” to ensure Scotland has more power.
Alex Salmond earlier characterised the day’s campaigning as Team Scotland against Team Westminster.
The First Minister said: “The breadth and reach of the yes campaign is there for all to see. It’s not about the Scottish National Party, the Green Party – it goes right through every sector of Scottish society. What we’re seeing today on the other side is Team Westminster jetting up to Scotland for the day because they are panicking in the campaign.
‘’We don’t make any assumptions about the poll next week but nonetheless the evidence would indicate that more and more of our fellow citizens are becoming convinced by the arguments being put forward by their fellow citizens in the yes campaign.
‘’The movement in Scotland is decisively towards yes.’’
He added: “What is interesting today is that at this juncture of the campaign, Team Westminster – David Cameron, Ed Miliband – have jetted up to Scotland. Not part of their plans perhaps, but nonetheless they are here.
“What we are arguing is that we’ve got a key test about jobs in Scotland, about protecting our National Health Service. Their concern with this last-gasp effort seems to be with their own jobs.
“That’s the contrast between the breadth and reach of Team Scotland and the narrow focus of Team Westminster, and that’s why we’re decisively winning the campaign on the ground in Scotland.’’
Mr Cameron had already given his backing to a timetable for transferring more powers that was outlined by his predecessor in Number 10, Labour’s Gordon Brown.
Work towards this could begin next Friday, the day after the referendum, if there is a no vote, while draft legislation could be drawn up by January.