SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE WOULD BE DISASTROUS [FOR ENGLAND] - BLAIR

Scottish independence would be "disastrous" for Scots, Prime Minister Tony Blair said today.
And he said the "folly" of the SNP, and the advantages of Scotland's union with England, would become clear as public debated unfolded.

Mr Blair made the claim at his monthly Downing Street press conference, hard on the heels of an opinion poll which last week suggested 51% of Scots now favour independence.

The same poll put the SNP ahead of Labour in constituency voting intentions for next May's Holyrood elections.
Mr Blair said the poll showed people had to be persuaded of the case against independence.
"You have to engage with people, you have to persuade them - that's what politics is about," said Mr Blair.

The United Kingdom was of "enormous benefit" both to Scotland and England, through trading links, a common currency, and shared armed forces and social security systems.
"There are enormous benefits," said the Prime Minister.
"You rip Scotland out of the UK, which is the SNP policy, and you will lose those benefits and end up with an uncertain economic future with less power for people in Scotland to affect the big changes that are happening in the world."
He accused the SNP and others of claiming people could only be "truly Scottish" if they were arguing the case for independence.
"But that's rubbish - the question is, what is in the best interests of Scotland," said Mr Blair.
"And what's in the best interests of Scotland is to have a strong Scotland within the United Kingdom where you have the benefit of devolution."
That entailed devolved decision-making in areas like law and order, education and health while having the benefit - "as we do in England" - of being part of the UK.
Mr Blair, born and educated in Scotland, ducked a question about whether he considered himself Scottish.
"I don't particularly look at it that way or not because I have lived all my life in England," he said.
And Scots could be both Scottish and British, he went on, citing a speech by Chancellor Gordon Brown - "I actually think Gordon put it very well in his conference speech."
Mr Blair said: "This is the debate that's going to happen, and the great thing about the democratic process is that there is going to be an election and it's not going to be decided by an opinion poll - it's going to be decided by an election in Scotland."
He continued: "I think when you look at the issue of independence, the sensible way to resolve these things round the world today is to have a constitutional settlement in which the things that obviously should be decided down at the level of the Scottish Parliament are decided by them."
These, said Mr Blair, included health, education, schools and local government.
But he went on: "To end up having a separate Scottish currency, separate Scottish armed forces, separate Scottish economy when we are so integrated together would be disastrous for people.
"I think that when this debate progresses, it's not just that people will realise the folly of the SNP position.
"I think and I hope - this is up to us to make the argument - they will realise the positive benefits to the United Kingdom.
"Through the United Kingdom we are all stronger together - including in England, incidentally."

SNP leader Alex Salmond said later: "The more the Prime Minister attacks independence, the more popular it becomes. "I urge him to continue in a similar vein.
"Labour's negative smears and fears campaign simply isn't working in the face of the SNP's positive case for Scottish independence."

He also accused the Prime Minister of referring to the Scottish Parliament in a "derogatory" manner. "It was as if Mr Blair was addressing a town council rather than a national Parliament," he said. "The Prime Minister is obviously out of touch with public opinion in Scotland."

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We already have the unvarnished truth on this from Blair's cabinet colleague Jack Straw. What they are really worried about is a decline in England's position after Scottish independence ie the loss of 'their' seat in the security council and 'their' place in the G8.

Scotland and Wales must stay silent internationally so glorious England can enjoy inflated international status that it doesn't deserve. Aye right!

Here it is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/5388078.stm

JOE