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British Leaders Campaign Against Independence Vote in Scotland Rival British Leaders Campaign in Unity Against Independence for Scotland
(about 4 hours later)
EDINBURGH — Combining emotional appeals with hardheaded warnings, British political leaders swept through Scotland on Wednesday in an effort to head off the increasingly real prospect that Britain could be dismembered, with both the Conservative prime minister, David Cameron, and the opposition Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband, stressing that a vote for Scottish independence would be “irreversible.” EDINBURGH — Combining emotional appeals with hardheaded warnings, British political leaders swept through Scotland on Wednesday in an effort to head off the increasingly real prospect that Britain could be dismembered, with both the Conservative prime minister, David Cameron, and the opposition Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband, stressing that a vote for Scottish independence would be “irreversible.”
With opinion polls suggesting that undecided voters are breaking toward the independence camp and that the outcome could be extremely close, Mr. Cameron, Mr. Miliband and the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, ripped up their schedules, abandoned normal parliamentary hostilities and rushed to Scotland to make their cases, separately but with a rare unanimity of purpose, for keeping the United Kingdom intact. Residents of Scotland vote next Thursday on whether to break their 307-year-old union with England, a move that would usher in profound constitutional, political, economic and cultural change. With a recent opinion poll suggesting that undecided voters are breaking toward the independence camp and that the outcome could be extremely close, Mr. Cameron, Mr. Miliband and the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, ripped up their schedules, abandoned normal parliamentary hostilities and rushed to Scotland to make their cases, separately but with a rare unanimity of purpose, for keeping the United Kingdom intact.
They were presumably heartened Wednesday evening by a poll taken by Survation for the Daily Record of Glasgow showing a 53 percent to 47 percent advantage for the anti-independence side. The same poll, which did not provide a margin of error, found precisely the same six-point difference two months ago, the paper said.
Residents of Scotland vote next Thursday on whether to break their 307-year-old union with England, a move that would usher in profound constitutional, political, economic and cultural changes.
Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr. Cameron said he would be “heartbroken” if Britain’s “family of nations was torn apart.” Stressing the scale of the decision being made, Mr. Cameron added that voting “yes” would be choosing to “irreversibly” separate Scotland from institutions built jointly.Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr. Cameron said he would be “heartbroken” if Britain’s “family of nations was torn apart.” Stressing the scale of the decision being made, Mr. Cameron added that voting “yes” would be choosing to “irreversibly” separate Scotland from institutions built jointly.
Sitting on a stool in the spacious atrium of the headquarters of Scottish Widows, a financial services company, Mr. Cameron, whose Conservative Party is deeply unpopular in Scotland, appealed to voters here to view the decision not in political terms but in historical terms.Sitting on a stool in the spacious atrium of the headquarters of Scottish Widows, a financial services company, Mr. Cameron, whose Conservative Party is deeply unpopular in Scotland, appealed to voters here to view the decision not in political terms but in historical terms.
In general elections, he said, voters unhappy with the Tories can give them a drubbing at the polls.In general elections, he said, voters unhappy with the Tories can give them a drubbing at the polls.
“This is totally different decision,” he said. “This is a decision about not the next five years. It is a decision about the next century.” “This is a totally different decision,” he said. “This is a decision about not the next five years. It is a decision about the next century.”
Addressing an audience of mostly Labour Party activists in a community center in Cumbernauld, a town north of Glasgow, Mr. Miliband said, “From the head, from the heart, from the soul,” Scots should vote no.Addressing an audience of mostly Labour Party activists in a community center in Cumbernauld, a town north of Glasgow, Mr. Miliband said, “From the head, from the heart, from the soul,” Scots should vote no.
“Don’t choose an irreversible separation,” he said. “Choose to stay together.”“Don’t choose an irreversible separation,” he said. “Choose to stay together.”
The visits drew a mocking response from Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish government and of the pro-independence campaign, as he sought to maintain what has been widely depicted as momentum in the run-up to the vote. “No one believes their panicked pledges — it is a phony timetable for measly powers,” said Mr. Salmond, referring to promises of greater powers for Scotland within Britain, and a schedule to put them quickly into effect if Scots vote no. The visits drew a mocking response from Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish government and of the pro-independence campaign, as he sought to maintain what has been widely depicted as momentum in the prelude to the vote. “No one believes their panicked pledges — it is a phony timetable for measly powers,” said Mr. Salmond, referring to promises of greater powers for Scotland within Britain, and a schedule to put them quickly into effect if Scots vote no.
The day of campaigning highlighted the dilemmas facing opponents of separation, who have been accused of complacency and of running a negative campaign. Until now, Mr. Cameron has kept a relatively low profile, perhaps calculating that he is more likely to antagonize than charm Scottish voters. The day of campaigning highlighted the problems facing opponents of separation, who have been accused of complacency and of running a negative campaign. Until now, Mr. Cameron has kept a relatively low profile, perhaps calculating that he is more likely to antagonize than charm Scottish voters.
His Conservative Party holds just one of the 59 Scottish seats in the British Parliament. As a wealthy Englishman who attended Britain’s most exclusive school, Eton College, Mr. Cameron is regarded by many Scots as out of touch. On Wednesday, Mr. Miliband declined to share a platform with the prime minister, telling reporters that he did not think doing so would help the “no” campaign.His Conservative Party holds just one of the 59 Scottish seats in the British Parliament. As a wealthy Englishman who attended Britain’s most exclusive school, Eton College, Mr. Cameron is regarded by many Scots as out of touch. On Wednesday, Mr. Miliband declined to share a platform with the prime minister, telling reporters that he did not think doing so would help the “no” campaign.
“As the people of Scotland put pen to ballot paper next week,” Mr. Cameron wrote in an essay published on Wednesday in The Daily Mail, “you will be writing the U.K.'s future in indelible ink. It’s a momentous decision: There will be no going back.” “As the people of Scotland put pen to ballot paper next week,” Mr. Cameron wrote in an essay published on Wednesday in The Daily Mail, “you will be writing the U.K.’s future in indelible ink. It’s a momentous decision: There will be no going back.”
Supporters of independence say it would allow them to build a more socially inclusive nation, a message that seems to have been welcomed by many in Scotland, which tends to tilt more to the left than England does.Supporters of independence say it would allow them to build a more socially inclusive nation, a message that seems to have been welcomed by many in Scotland, which tends to tilt more to the left than England does.
“More and more people in Scotland are waking up to the fact: Only with the powers of independence can we secure real job-creating powers and ensure that our National Health Service is fully protected,” Mr. Salmond said.“More and more people in Scotland are waking up to the fact: Only with the powers of independence can we secure real job-creating powers and ensure that our National Health Service is fully protected,” Mr. Salmond said.
Mr. Miliband sought to counter that argument by pointing to Mr. Salmond’s promise that he would reduce taxes on corporations. Independence would take Scots “away from social justice,” he said.Mr. Miliband sought to counter that argument by pointing to Mr. Salmond’s promise that he would reduce taxes on corporations. Independence would take Scots “away from social justice,” he said.
But not all voters were convinced. Liz Dornan, a retired primary school principal, described Mr. Miliband’s speech as “inspiring” but said she was still undecided on how to vote.But not all voters were convinced. Liz Dornan, a retired primary school principal, described Mr. Miliband’s speech as “inspiring” but said she was still undecided on how to vote.
“I am always persuaded by the Labour ethos,” she said, “but I am swithering because I feel we will still end up with a Tory government.”“I am always persuaded by the Labour ethos,” she said, “but I am swithering because I feel we will still end up with a Tory government.”