AT HEART WE ARE ALL ONE PEOPLE
Theresa May makes passionate defence of Union as Sturgeon gears up for another referendum
THERESA May yesterday squared up to Nicola Sturgeon as she launched a new battle to keep the United Kingdom together.
The Prime Minister promised to stand up for the ‘true and enduring’ Union as she fought back against the SNP’s ‘obsession’ with tearing Britain apart.
UK Government sources said she was effectively launching a ‘shadow referendum campaign’ to ensure support for separation does not grow – making it less likely the First Minister will demand a rerun of the divisive 2014 vote.
They also insisted a second independence referendum is ‘not inevitable’ – and that any request for the powers to hold one, which may come in the next fortnight, could be rejected.
In a passionate speech to the Scottish Tory spring conference in Glasgow, Mrs May vowed to keep the Union intact, saying: ‘We are four nations, but at heart we are all one people. That solidarity is the essence of our United Kingdom and is the surest safeguard of its future.
‘Let us live up to that high ideal and let us never stop making, loudly and clearly, the positive, optimistic and passionate case for our precious Union of nations and people.’
Mrs May added: ‘The Union is not simply a constitutional artefact. It is characterised by sharing as a country the challenges we all face and pooling the resources we have to tackle them.
‘The existence of our Union rests on simple but powerful principles: solidarity, unity, family. Ours is not a marriage of convenience, or a fair-weather friendship, but a true enduring Union. We should never be shy of making that positive case for the Union.’
The Prime Minister also accused the SNP of ‘twisting the truth and distorting reality’ in its ‘obsession of independence’.
Mrs May hit out at the Nationalists for failing ‘to point out the UK domestic market is worth four times more to Scottish firms’ than the EU market.
She said: ‘In fact, the EU comes third after the rest of the UK and the rest of the world as a market for Scottish goods. And yet the SNP propose Scottish independence, which would wrench Scotland out of its biggest market.
‘They think independence is the answer to every question in every circumstance, regardless of fact and reality. It does not add up and we should never stop saying so.
‘There is no economic case for breaking up the United Kingdom.’
Mrs May also warned of the threat of Islamic State, saying: ‘The United Kingdom is a responsible member of the international community and Scotland makes a huge contribution to the UK’s role. In defence, Scotland is central to the United Kingdom’s capability.’
UK ministers believe Miss Sturgeon could demand the power to hold referendums is devolved – which they would reject.
But they have not decided how they would respond to a demand for a one-off referendum.
A Government source said it is ‘not inevitable’ that there will be a referendum – as Miss Sturgeon could be scared off by poor polls.
Mrs May also vowed the Union must not be weakened by Brexit.
Miss Sturgeon has demanded powers over immigration, farming and fisheries are given to Holyrood after Brexit. But Mrs May said not all new powers will transfer from Brussels to Scotland.
She added: ‘As we bring powers and control back to the United Kingdom, we must ensure the right powers sit at the right level to ensure our United Kingdom can operate effectively and in the interests of all its citizens, including people in Scotland. We must avoid any unintended consequences for the coherence and integrity of a devolved United Kingdom as a result of our leaving the EU.
‘As I have made clear, no decisions currently taken by the Scottish parliament will be removed. While the SNP propose decisionmaking should remain in Brussels, we will use the opportunity of Brexit to ensure more decisions are devolved back into the hands of the Scottish people.’
But she said the main aim would be ensuring she achieves ‘the most effective arrangements to maintain and strengthen the United Kingdom while also respecting the dev-
‘Twisting truth and distorting reality’
olution settlements. But the devolution of powers across the United Kingdom must not mean we become a looser and weaker Union. We cannot allow our United Kingdom to drift apart.’
Following Mrs May’s speech, SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson told the BBC there would be a referendum if ‘the UK Government cannot reach agreement with the Scottish Government to protect our interests in Europe’.
He added: ‘The Prime Minister’s claim the UK is a family of nations rings especially hollow when the Scottish Government’s genuine offer of compromise has been repeatedly rebuffed and ignored.’
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