Buckingham Palace warned not to drag Queen into battle
Queen Elizabeth II
London: Queen Elizabeth II has waded into the debate over Scotland's future as part of the United Kingdom, asking Scots to “think very carefully about the future” before voting in a historic referendum this week.
In a much hoped for intervention by politicians in Westminster, the Queen told well wishers outside church in Aberdeenshire in Scotland yesterday: “Well, I hope people will think very carefully about the future”. It is the first time she has spoken directly on the historic referendum and follows calls from Unionists for her to speak out in favour of a 'no' vote.
Last week, Buckingham Palace had warned politicians not to drag her into the battle, after both Labour and Conservative backbenchers urged her to intervene. If Scots vote for independence in Thursday's referendum, the Scotland would split from the United Kingdom in 18 months.
Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and British Prime Minister David Cameron are due to hit the Scottish campaign trail ahead of Thursday’s yes or no vote. Salmond is to join business leaders to argue that a “Yes” vote would help to grow Scotland's economy.
Cameron will be in Scotland to give a speech arguing there are strong “head and heart” reasons to vote “No”. English footballer David Beckham has backed the “No” campaign, urging a vote to renew the UK's “historic bond”.
The former England captain urged voters in Scotland not to ditch a union that was the “envy of the entire world”. Meanwhile, the Scottish separatists say they will keep Queen Elizabeth II if the country votes Thursday to leave the United Kingdom, but some question how secure the monarchy would be post-independence.
The Queen’s 15 realms outside Britain Australia, Canada and New Zealand included have a viceroy and some experts suggest Scotland would likewise need a governor-general for permanent in-country representation and to avoid the Queen directly receiving conflicting advice from her governments.
The Queen told a well-wisher on Sunday: “I hope people will think very carefully about the future” after attending a church service near her Balmoral estate in Scotland. Buckingham Palace has only spoken officially to stress her constitutional impartiality and view that it is a matter for the people of Scotland. England and Scotland have shared the same monarch since 1603.
Nato applies pressure:
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said if Scotland votes for independence this week it will have to reapply to join the military alliance. He also insisted that Britain’s role in NATO was not in question whatever the result of the referendum, despite uncertainty over the fate of its Scottish-based nuclear deterrent.
‘No campaign’ raised £2.7m:
Better Together, the anti-independence movement, raised more cash during the Scottish referendum campaign than the Yes campaign. According to the Electoral Commission, the No campaign, which seeks to keep the kingdom united, raised a total of £2.7 million. The pro-independence Yes Scotland raised £1.8 million.
( Source : PTI )
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