British Prime Minister David Cameron has waded forcefully into the debate over Scottish independence, delivering an impassioned call to keep the United Kingdom together just seven months before Scots vote on whether to break up the three-century-old union.
On political, economic and military grounds, Mr Cameron argued, Scotland is better off as a part of Great Britain. But Mr Cameron also made an unusually emotional appeal, invoking Scotch whisky, the Sherlock Holmes franchise and the Team GB Olympics squad as examples of successful collaborations that would be diminished by a split.
“This is our home — and I could not bear to see that home torn apart,” Mr Cameron said. “I love this country. I love the United Kingdom and all it stands for. And I will fight with all I have to keep us together.”
Polls suggest that most Scots agree that they should stick with their southern neighbours, and that Scotland will opt to remain a part of Great Britain in the September 18 vote. But opinions remain fluid, and some surveys show those favouring independence gaining ground as the debate heats up.
