Scottish independence would be a victory for the enemies of freedom and justice, Australia's prime minister has said, in the most pointed intervention yet by a foreign leader in the independence debate.
In an interview with The Times, Tony Abbott declared that independence would be cheered only by those countries that opposed British values and justice around the world.
Mr Abbott's remarks represent a significant setback for Alex Salmond in his attempts to portray independence as popular in the international community. They provide the most damning critique delivered to date on Scottish independence by an international government leader. "As a friend of Britain, as an observer from afar, it's hard to see how the world would be helped by an independent Scotland," Mr Abbott said on a visit to London.
"I think that the people who would like to see the break-up of the United Kingdom are not the friends of justice, the friends of freedom, and the countries that would cheer at the prospect of the break-up of the United Kingdom are not the countries whose company one would like to keep."
Mr Abbott's intervention is the first time that such a senior British ally has been so outspoken on a decision that rests ultimately with Scottish voters and the first time the debate has been cast as one of western liberalism against its enemies. President Obama has backed the No campaign on the ground that the two countries' relationship serves both well. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," he told the Scottish Labour MP Douglas Alexander last month.
President Putin was more guarded when he was asked about the subject this year but he too hinted at opposition to Scottish independence when he said he believed that "a single strong state has some advantages". Otherwise, world leaders have been guarded on the fate of the 300-year-old Union.
Mr Salmond has tried to portray Scottish independence as part of a natural process of self-determination, similar to that undertaken by many other small nations. But such a clear dismissal from a senior world leader such as Mr Abbott, albeit one who is known to be an ally of David Cameron, will undermine Mr Salmond's claims.
Mr Abbott, an anglophile former Continued on page 4, col 5 Continued from page 1 Rhodes scholar, did not name the countries he believes would line up to applaud the end of the Union. However, his trip to London was scheduled round meetings in the Netherlands on the investigation into the shooting down of the Malaysia Airlines jet over Ukraine.
Asked to comment on Mr Abbott's intervention, A Yes Scotland spokesman said: "Independence seems to be working well for Australia." He added: "These comments have echoes of Lord Robertson's 'forces of darkness' speech in April, which was widely ridiculed, even by No supporters, as one of the anti-independence campaign's most outlandish scare stories.
"The decision about Scotland's future is one for the people of Scotland to make -- a point that even David Cameron asserts. After a "yes" vote, Scotland will take her place as a normal and valued member of the international community -- just as Australia did when she gained independence." A Better Together spokesperson said: "The closer we get to the vote, it is clear that people here at home and around the world are realising independence is a risk that we do not need to take." Alex Salmond, My Week, page 36
Credit: Giles Whittell, Hamish Macdonell
