Scottish referendum: Cameron, Clegg and Miliband agree to skip PMQs to visit Scotland

 
David Cameron in the House of Commons
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David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg tore up their Westminster diaries today to rush to Scotland in a bid to stop the United Kingdom breaking up.

Fuelling a perception of panic among pro-union campaigners, the three leaders will miss Prime Minister’s Questions tomorrow and instead dash to Scotland to appeal to voters to oppose independence in the historic referendum next Thursday.

The dramatic move came after two polls suggested the pro-independence “Yes” campaign is on the march and could win.

In a joint statement, the three Westminster leaders said: “There is a lot that divides us - but there’s one thing on which we agree passionately: the United Kingdom is better together.

“That’s why all of us are agreed the right place for us to be tomorrow is in Scotland, not at Prime Minister’s Questions in Westminster.

“We want to be listening and talking to voters about the huge choice they face. Our message to the Scottish people will be simple: ‘We want you to stay.’”

Sources said Tory leader of the House of Commons William Hague will take on Labour Deputy Leader Harriet Harman tomorrow in place of Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband.

Asked if the highly-unusual move was a sign of panic in the No camp and about the security of his own position as Prime Minister if he oversaw the break-up of the Union, Mr Cameron said: "I really care about this issue.

"I care passionately about our United Kingdom and I want to do everything I can to put the arguments in front of the people.

"In the end it is for the Scottish people to decide but I want them to know that the rest of the United Kingdom, and I speak as Prime Minister, want them to stay.

"All those steps we can take, making sure people in Scotland know that they can have the best of both worlds - more powers to govern themselves but also being inside the United Kingdom."

The Saltire is also due to fly above Downing Street from this afternoon in as Mr Cameron affirms his commitment to the union.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was parachuted in yesterday to front the “No” campaign just nine days before the vote.

Seeking to win over undecided voters at the eleventh hour, Mr Brown outline a detailed timetable for “home rule” powers for Scotland, if there is a “No” vote.

But a jubilant SNP leader Alex Salmond said today: “This is the day that the ‘No’ Campaign finally fell apart at the seams.”

Britain’s financial regulator confirmed it is now making contingency plans for a break-up and there were calls for the Queen to step in to save the union.

At a reception of business leaders last night in Downing Street, Mr Cameron stressed how Britain had stood together to defeat Hitler.

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