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PM says Conservative vote will stop indyref2 Election 2019: PM says only Conservatives can save 'fantastic' UK
(about 20 hours later)
The prime minister is to tell an audience in Scotland that a vote for the Scottish Conservatives is a vote to stop another independence referendum. The prime minister has urged voters to use next month's general election to call a halt to Nicola Sturgeon's plans for a second independence referendum.
Boris Johnson is to visit Scotland on his first full day of campaigning ahead of the 12 December vote. Boris Johnson was speaking as he visited Scotland on his first full day of campaigning ahead of the vote.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said "it is time" for Scottish independence. Ms Sturgeon has said she wants to hold indyref2 next year, claiming that "it is time" for independence.
Scottish Labour and the Liberal Democrats have set out positions opposed to holding a further referendum on the issue. Mr Johnson said only a vote for the Scottish Conservatives would stop the SNP's plans to "break up the UK".
As he prepared to travel to Scotland, Mr Johnson said the general election would be "crucial" for Scotland. Scottish Labour and the Liberal Democrats have also pledged to oppose a further referendum on independence.
"A vote for the Scottish Conservatives is a vote to stop a second independence referendum and to get Brexit done so we can spend 2020 taking back control of our fishing waters, getting a fairer deal for our farmers, and investing in public services to give people better healthcare and better education," he said. Speaking as he visited a distillery near Elgin in Moray on Thursday afternoon, Mr Johnson said it was only the Scottish Conservatives who could "keep our fantastic United Kingdom together and prevent another referendum next year".
"The other choice is a vote for Jeremy Corbyn who would spend next year dancing to the SNP's tune, wasting the year with two divisive referendums - one on the EU and one to give up on our union." He added: "We are the party that is saying come on, let's get together as a whole UK, let's get Brexit done, get this thing over the line and then get on with bringing our great country together and unleashing the potential of the whole UK."
Underlining his opposition to Scottish independence, he added: "I will never give up on our incredible union." Mr Johnson said the other choice for prime minister was Jeremy Corbyn, who he claimed had "done a deal" with the SNP that would "get him into power in exchange for agreeing to another referendum even although the last one was meant to be once in a generation".
'Choose our own future' He also used his visit to pledge to review the amount of tax paid on a bottle of whisky, which the Conservatives said would allow it to "develop a system which provides better support for domestic drink producers".
Ms Sturgeon has said independence will be a key theme of the SNP's election campaign. Ahead of the prime minister's visit, Ms Sturgeon urged him to apologise to the Scottish people for the "chaos he and his party have subjected us to for years".
Speaking at a rally in Glasgow at the weekend, she said Scotland should "choose our own future". Ms Sturgeon said: "Whatever happens in this election, Brexit will not in any sense be done - even if a deal is ultimately passed.
Ms Sturgeon said: "Over the next few weeks, it is our job to convince everyone we know to come out on December the 12th and send the biggest, loudest most resounding message to Westminster. "It is an issue which is set to dominate Westminster politics, one way or another, for many years to come. That is why it is vital Scotland chooses to escape Brexit by opting for a better future with independence."
"That it is time for Scotland to choose our own future. It is time for Scotland to be an independent country. Elsewhere, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said his party would win over "moderate" voters with its commitment to prevent both Brexit and a second independence referendum.
"An independent country that will be the best of friends and family with our neighbours across the British Isles, across Europe and across the world." Willie Rennie said: "We need to stop Brexit, because every single option for it damages the economy and divides the country. We want to stop independence because that'll just repeat the mistakes of Brexit."
Referendum mandate Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard was also on the campaign trail as he highlighted his party's pledge to invest £70bn into Scotland's industries and public services during a visit to a manufacturing business in Midlothian.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has said he does not believe the SNP has a mandate for another Scottish independence referendum. Speaking ahead of the visit, he said the investment would "put Scotland's economy back on the map" and create well-paid, high-skilled jobs.
Speaking at his party's campaign launch on Wednesday, he said a decision on whether there is a mandate for another vote would need to be determined on the basis of future elections. Mr Leonard said this would give workers "the security they need to get on in life".
He added that he does not think the SNP would have a mandate even after the 2021 Holyrood election.
He said: "I don't know how you can predict an election in two years' time when one of the things which we are going to have to navigate is Brexit.
"The election of a Labour government in December will mean that by the middle of next year, the people will have a choice in a Brexit referendum."
Opposition to Scottish independence is a key theme of the Liberal Democrats, who also say they will stop Brexit if they win power at the general election.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said her party was "the only party standing up to stop Brexit and build a brighter future for the UK".