David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband are combining forces and heading to Scotland tomorrow to make the case for the UK. Here’s their joint statement:
The presence of the three party leaders is meant to show that Westminster will deliver on its promises about further devolution to Scotland. But, doubtless, Alex Salmond will seize on this as proof that the Westminster parties are rattled. We were told that Cameron would not be in Scotland this week, leaving the coast clear for Labour to make the left-wing case for the Union. But for the promise of new powers to be credible, Better Together has to show that it is supported by all the UK parties. There will be those on the Labour side who worry about Cameron and Miliband campaigning together given the toxicity of the Tory brand in Scotland. They will also be concerned about fuelling the anti-establishment, anti-politics mood in Scotland. But with the situation as it is, the Unionist parties need to show that Scotland will get more powers whoever wins the UK general election. ‘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.”‘
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