David Cameron today insisted he will not resign if the Scots vote to leave the UK, as it became clear he faces a huge revolt regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s referendum.
“My name is not on the ballot paper,” the Prime Minister insisted, as campaign leaders made their final pitch to Scottish voters, with the polls predicting a No victory by just 52-48.
On the final day of campaigning, Gordon Brown urged Scots to vote No “for the sake of our children”, as Alex Salmond tried to soothe critics by promising cross-party talks after a Yes vote.
Amid anger on the Tory benches that the United Kingdom could be on the verge of a break-up, Romford MP Andrew Rosindell told the Financial Times: “I hope Scots vote to stay; if it goes wrong, however, the Prime Minister will have to decide what the honourable thing is to do.”
Another MP told the Standard privately: “If the referendum goes for independence, the Prime Minister will have to resign.”
But Mr Cameron, speaking in Hampshire, said the referendum would only decide Scotland’s future.
“The question about my future will be decided at the British general election coming soon,” he said.
Even if there is a No vote, senior MPs are planning a delegation to protest against the Prime Minister’s panic-driven pledge to give Scots extra powers and to guarantee continuing spending subsidies.
One senior backbencher told the Standard: “Parliament should have been consulted and many feel they have given away too much.”
Some Tories say a narrow No victory would vindicate Mr Cameron’s last-minute giveaways but others think the entire campaign has been too divisive and negative.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage stepped in this morning to protest at “anti-English” sentiments being whipped up by Mr Salmond’s Yes campaign.
“We are now seeing intimidation.. and the sort of abhorrent behaviour that could lead to rioting,” he said.
“It is surely Alex Salmond’s job to publicly demand calm and law-abiding behaviour to ensure a free and fair referendum tomorrow.”
Alistair Darling also condemned the behaviour of Yes campaigners, who have heckled speakers including Ed Miliband and vandalised homes bearing No posters.
“Unfortunately there are some who have stepped over the mark,” he said.
“Frankly, to have people demonstrating outside the BBC, some thousands of people holding up placards of journalists they disapprove of — you don’t expect to see that in this country.”
He said it would be a “tragedy” for Scotland to leave, adding that staying would mean “faster, more secure, better change within the United Kingdom than the years of wrangling that would follow if we were to vote to leave the UK tomorrow”.
Stung by headlines protesting at intimidation and abuse by Yes supporters, Mr Salmond today extended an olive branch to the other parties.
If he won, he would invite “people from across the political spectrum” to help him negotiate the separation of an independent Scotland “in comradely friendship with our neighbours and the rest of the UK”.
He rejected a warning by 14 military chiefs in The Sun that the UK would be left more vulnerable to attack if Scotland votes to become independent.
“You can believe in democracy and independence for Scotland and be a loyal soldier,” he told the BBC.
The economic case for independence was challenged after unemployment figures showed Scottish dole queues down to only six per cent.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: “Scotland’s unemployment rate is half that of Ireland’s, pretty much.
“The advantages of being in the Union from this I think begin to be very clear.”
In another blow to the nationalists, Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy told his country’s parliament Scotland would have to re-apply to join the EU if it left the UK.
