Scottish independence referendum: David Cameron tells Scots, “I won’t be here forever”
David Cameron made an emotional plea to Scottish voters last night, calling on them not to vote for independence in the referendum vote on Thursday.
“Please, please don’t let anyone tell you you can’t be a proud Scot and a proud Brit,” Cameron said in a speech in Aberdeen. “If you don’t like me – I won’t be here forever. If you don’t like this government – it won’t last forever,” he added, apparently in response to claims this his party’s negative reputation north of the border had boosted the popularity of the Yes vote.
The Prime Minister’s last speech in Scotland before the ballot focused on the emotional case for union, rather than the economic arguments which have been at the heart of the campaign in recent days.
Warning that the Yes campaign’s claim that a separate Scottish state would be more prosperous alone is too good to be true, Cameron accused Alex Salmond’s camp of fighting a negative and divisive battle. “Let no-one fool you that ‘Yes’ is a positive vision. It’s about dividing people, closing doors, making foreigners of our friends and family. This isn’t an optimistic vision,” the Prime Minister said.
Elsewhere, Salmond claimed comments made by the Queen yesterday, seemingly in support of keeping the United Kingdom together, were misrepresented by biased media organisations. The Scottish first minister has accused the BBC of siding with the No vote.