Cameron issues rallying call to keep UK together

David Cameron has urged the rest of the UK to “phone a friend” in Scotland as part of a last-ditch bid to persuade Scots to vote No.

The Prime Minister admitted the opinion polls tightening was “nerve racking” but issued a rallying call to people across the UK to show they want Scotland to remain in the UK.

Mr Cameron also suggested the extra powers being promised by the pro-Union parties if there’s a No vote will see the Scottish parliament reach its “resting place”.

The Tory leader said: “There are lots of things people should do, whether it is using social media, tweeting and blogging your support for the UK, phoning a friend or talking to relations or colleagues who live in Scotland and have a vote.

“It could be more visual demonstrations, hoisting the Saltire over buildings, putting a flag in your window any number of things. They don’t need to be centrally directed because they will happen anyway because the passion is there. It should all have the same aim, which believes in the United Kingdom.

“More than anything else from the rest of the UK you get the arguments of passion rather than arguments about detail which I hope shows everybody knows how much we care about the UK. Sometimes that does not come across, sometimes because people talk about England when they mean Britain. But scratch an Englishman and you don’t have to go very deep until you find an absolutely passionate Briton and someone who believes in the UK.”

Mr Cameron said the referendum race is “going right down to the wire”. He added: “I hope this will mean people who thought they could leave it to others to vote to save our United Kingdom will come out and vote, because this is not a decision for five years.”

The Prime Minister has come under fire for failing to spell out what the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems mean by “more powers” as a deal on more devolution in the event of a No vote has still to be agreed.

Last week, a timetable for talks on these powers was put forward and Mr Cameron insisted this sends a strong signal to voters they are serious about the proposals.

“What has happened since 1997 is we have not reached that resting place because, in spite of acts of devolution and acts of further devolution, it hasn’t quite got to the right place.”

The Prime Minister added the result of changes “to raise and spend more money through the Scottish Parliament” will resolve this.

Despite the expected closeness of the result, Mr Cameron said he didn’t think there would be another one. He said: “It has been a long campaign and I don’t think people will be contemplating another one straight after this.”