A local campaign to help defend Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom was launched this week in Gretna, where a rally of supporters of the Conservative Friends of the Union (CFU) was addressed by the leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson MSP and local MP for Dumfriesshire David Mundell. The meeting took place a week ahead of the Better Together national action weekend that will see local people involved in campaigning in Annan and Dumfries.
Speaking to a busy meeting at Stormont Hall in Gretna Green, the two politicians set out the arguments in favour of Scotland remaining a part of the United Kingdom and took part in a lively ‘question and answer’ session with members of the audience. So far over 10,000 people across Scotland have signed up to the organisation, which is now launching its grassroots campaign locally.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP said: “Two years from now, Scotland will decide whether to renew our partnership with England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is the most successful political union the world has ever seen, and the advantages that Scotland gains from membership of the UK – and the enormous contributions that Scots have made to it – are why renewing that partnership is the key to a safer, fairer and more prosperous Scotland in future.
“When we vote in the independence referendum we will not just be deciding the standard of living that we enjoy, but the standard of living of our children, our grandchildren and of generations to come.
“The battle to keep Britain together will not be won by politicians but by ordinary people here in Dumfriesshire and across the country. I am delighted that so many Scots who are proud to be both Scottish and British have pledged their support for our campaign and I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with people from all walks of life and all parts of the country to preserve the United Kingdom.”
Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell said: “I am delighted that we got such a strong turnout locally and that Ruth is making this fight her top priority. From the opinion polls we know that support for keeping Scotland in the United Kingdom consistently outstrips support for separation. But more importantly, we know it from the conversations we have with our families, our friends and with our neighbours.
“This meeting shows that local people believe we are better together, especially here at the border where our lives would be dramatically and directly affected by independence. I am determined to do what I can as a local MP to get the message out locally about the strength that comes from unity and demand answers to what the future would be for our region in a separate Scotland.”