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Reuters
British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to appeal to Scots' emotions on his last visit to Scotland before this week's historic referendum by warning them on Monday that a vote to leave the United Kingdom would be irreversible.With opinion polls suggesting the referendum remains too close to call, Cameron, the leader of the ruling Conservative party, which draws most of its support from England, will plead with voters not to use the referendum as a protest vote.
"There's no going back from this. No re-run. If Scotland votes "yes" the UK will split and we will go our separate ways forever," he will say, according to advance extracts of his speech given to media by his advisers.
Cameron's trip is a last-ditch effort to try to persuade Scotland's many undecided voters to reject independence. Up to 500,000 people out of more than 4 million registered voters are estimated to be unsure how they will vote.
DW
DW has picked 12 things you need to know about Scotland, the self-proclaimed "best wee country in the world," ahead of its referendum to remain part of the United Kingdom or become an independent country.The Unicorn
Yes, it's not a real animal. But Scottish culture is rich in myths and legends - so the unicorn seems to be a fitting choice as the country's national animal. It has been used in royal Scottish coats of arms since the 12th century. This specimen can be found on the walls of Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.
The Guardian
David Cameron has issued a heartfelt plea for Scotland to vote to stay in the United Kingdom. Speaking in Aberdeen, he depicted the UK as a family, stressed the finality of the decision to break it up, insisted that Scotland would get more powers without independence and admitted that he, and Tory governments, would not be in power for ever.On Thursday, Scotland votes, and the future of our country is at stake. On Friday, people could be living in a different country, with a different place in the world and a different future ahead of it.
This is a decision that could break up our family of nations, and rip Scotland from the rest of the UK. And we must be very clear. There’s no going back from this. No re-run. This is a once-and-for-all decision. If Scotland votes Yes, the UK will split, and we will go our separate ways forever.
Gordon Brown, the Labour former prime minister and now the driving force behind efforts by the three main UK parties to commit themselves to greater devolution to Scotland in the event of a no vote, has called for three “guarantees” for Scotland to “locked in” before Thursday. They are: a guarantee that Scotland will be involved in further constitutional change; a guarantee of fairness; and a guarantee the Barnett formula will survive.
The White House has reaffirmed its opposition to Scottish independence.
BBC
Alex Salmond has joined business leaders to argue for Scottish independence, as David Cameron outlined "head and heart" reasons to vote "No".Mr Salmond used an event at Edinburgh Airport to hit out at the "scaremongering" of the "No" campaign.
Mr Cameron later gave a speech arguing that independence was a "divorce" rather than a "trial separation".
On Thursday, voters will be asked: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
Speaking in Aberdeen, the prime minister said the outcome could "end the United Kingdom as we know it", and argued that there would be "no way back" if Scotland does decide to leave the UK.
Elsewhere on the campaign trail...
NPR
With voter opinion polls showing single-digit margins over the call for Scotland to break away from the U.K., two of England's most visible leaders — Prime Minister David Cameron and Queen Elizabeth II — are speaking about the issue. Today, Cameron told Scots not to vote out of frustration, saying, "If you don't like me, I won't be here forever."Cameron spoke one day after a rally for Scottish independence, and a day after the queen briefly addressed an issue on which she has been publicly silent. Voters in Scotland will decide the issue on Thursday, Sept. 18.
Queen Elizabeth, who's known for spending much of her summers at the royal family's Balmoral estate in Scotland, spoke about the question after a church service there Sunday. According to The Times newspaper, she told someone in the crowd, "I hope people will think very carefully about the future."
In a separate article, The Times reports that Alex Salmond, leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, is certain that the queen is "absolutely impartial" on the issue.
Thursday's ballot will include the question, "Should Scotland be an independent country?" Today, Cameron told his audience in Aberdeen, Scotland, that they should all vote no.
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O Flower of Scotland
Scotland's (unofficial) National Anthem written by Roy Williamson of The Corries
O flower of Scotland
When will we see your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again
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