Scottish independence: Prime minister to say UK should be pulling together

David Cameron will cite Olympic success and second world war as he calls on Scotland to stay part of UK
David Cameron
David Cameron will say Scotland should stay in a 'prosperous, compassionate Britain'. Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters

The United Kingdom should be "pulling together, not pulling apart", the prime minister will insist on Friday.

David Cameron will cite the UK's success at last summer's Olympics and the efforts of British soldiers in the second world war as he calls on people in Scotland to remain part of a "prosperous, compassionate Britain".

A referendum on independence next year will decide if Scotland remains in the UK.

Cameron will use his speech at the Scottish Conservatives' party conference in Stirling to set out his vision for Scotland's place in the UK.

He will argue there is no challenge the country is facing to which "breaking up Britain is the right answer".

The UK's history "has always been one of shared endeavour", with different countries "proud in our individual identities but working together for a common good", Cameron is expected to say.

"We saw it when our soldiers fought together under one flag on the beaches of Normandy. We saw it when our doctors came together to build our NHS. We saw it in the scientific breakthroughs that we made together: from the television to penicillin. And we saw it last summer as athletes from around Britain, no matter where they were from, draped themselves in one flag."

But there is "still so much more to come", he will say, asking: "Why wouldn't we want to face the future together?


"The future I see for Scotland is part of a dynamic, enterprising, prosperous, compassionate Britain; a Britain that isn't just competing in the global race but winning in the world; a country where we are pulling together, not pulling apart."

Alex Salmond, the Scottish National party leader, made a fresh call for the prime minister to take part in a TV debate with him before the independence referendum on 18 September next year.

"Given that David Cameron's government at Westminster is clearly leading the no campaign, he should be prepared to engage in a referendum debate with me about Scotland's future," the Scottish first minister said.

"The prime minister is the most senior elected politician arguing for a no vote. If he wants to be part of the debate, he has an obligation to take part in a debate so that the people of Scotland can judge our respective cases.

"I am confident that the people of Scotland will choose yes. It is time for David Cameron to step up to the plate."