David Cameron: Scots want EU referendum as well
The majority of Scots back Tory plans for a referendum on Europe, David Cameron has said – responding to claims that English euroscepticism was widening the divide between Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Speaking on a visit to MacTaggart Scott, a business specialising in naval defence in Loanhead, Midlothian, the Prime Minister warned a Yes vote would see Scotland leave the EU and be at the back of the queue to rejoin.
He added: “My strategy on behalf of the whole of the United Kingdom is to negotiate a better deal in Europe and then have a referendum on Britain’s membership by the end of 2017.
“That is supported, according to opinion polls, by a majority of Scots and also by quite a big majority of Scottish National Party voters. I believe that the policy I have is the right one for the whole of the UK.”
Mr Cameron’s comments came as Ukip leader Nigel Farage predicted further defections if Tory deserter Douglas Carswell wins a by-election and become the eurosceptic party’s first MP.
Mr Carswell will return to his Clacton constituency today flanked by Mr Farage as the pair plan an unexpected by-election campaign following the shock announcement yesterday.
Mr Carswell quit the Commons to stand under the Ukip banner and, writing in a newspaper, Mr Farage claimed other Labour and Conservative MPs could follow suit.
He said: “There are an increasing number of Conservative and Labour backbenchers who not only support Ukip in what it is trying to achieve but view the impact of open-door immigration on the lives of ordinary people with increasing urgency.
“So if Douglas Carswell wins this by-election and those backbench MPs believe they are more likely to win their seats as Ukip than as Tory or Labour, then more will follow.”