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Thank you very much, and God bless you all.







 

David Cameron. Speech on Scottish Independence

 

Read the speech and answer the following questions:

  1. David Cameron speaks on the referendum appointed to be conducted in September 2014. How the events connected with the mentioned referendum have been developing? Was it conducted? Speak about the procedure, the results of it, the response of different groups of British (including Scottish, regardless of the results) response to its results, the British government response to its results. What were the main reasons of such an outcome?
  2. Do you find the reference to the Olympics impressive? Was it a good way to start?
  3. Regardless of the outcome of the referendum: do you agree that “This marriage of nations has run its course and needs a divorce”? Is the same relevant to any other nations on the map of the modern world. What makes such situation relevant? If it occurs is the better way to do everything possible to preserve territorial integrity of a state or to let the nations that want to get independence go free? Explain your perspective.
  4. The Prime Minister analyzes all the views concerning the future of Scotland that, he considers, exist in British society. What arguments of his do you find most and least convincing?
  5. Comment on the statement “The UK is a soft power super power”.
  6. Comment on the statement “This is a country that has never been cowed by bullies and dictators”.
  7. Comment on the statement “Our values are of value to the world”.
  8. Translate the extracts in bold into Russian.

 

David Cameron

Speech on Scottish independence

Delivered on 7 February 2014

 

I want to thank Glasgow Caledonian for co-hosting this event.

This is a fantastic, forward-looking university – and we are very grateful for your support today as we are to the Lee Valley VeloPark, for hosting us in this magnificent space.

Less than 2 years ago, this Velodrome was a cauldron of excitement. Chris Hoy was ripping around at 40 miles per hour I was up there, I had a whole seat but believe me, I only used the edge. 3 more golds – an incredible night.

But for me, the best thing about the Olympics wasn’t the winning. It was the red, the white, the blue. It was the summer that patriotism came out of the shadows and into the sun. Everyone cheering as one for Team GB.

And it’s Team GB I want to talk about today.

Our United Kingdom. Last year, the date for the Scottish referendum was fixed. The countdown was set. And today, we have just over 7 months until that vote. Centuries of history hang in the balance a question mark hangs over the future of our United Kingdom. If people vote yes in September, then Scotland will become an independent country. There will be no going back.

As I have made clear, this is a decision that is squarely and solely for those in Scotland to make. I passionately believe it is in their interests to stay in the UK. That way Scotland has the space to take decisions, while still having the security that comes with being part of something bigger.

From Holyrood they can decide what happens in every hospital, school and police station in Scotland and in the UK, Scotland is part of a major global player. These are the arguments we will keep on putting till September 18th. It is their choice, their vote.

But my argument today is that while only 4 million people can vote in this referendum, all 63 million of us are profoundly affected. There are 63 million of us who could wake up on September 19th in a different country, with a different future ahead of it.

That’s why this speech is addressed not so much to the people of Scotland, but to the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Within these countries there are a whole range of different views about this referendum. There are those I’d call the ‘quiet patriots’: people who love the UK, love our flag and our history – but think there’s nothing much they can do to encourage Scotland to stay in the UK so they stay out of the debate.

There are the ‘shoulder shruggers’: people who are ambivalent about the outcome, who think this doesn’t matter much to anyone South of the border. Their view is that if Scotland left the UK then yes, that would be sad, but we could just wave them a wistful goodbye and carry on as normal.

And then there are those – a few – who think we’d be better off if Scotland did leave the UK, that this marriage of nations has run its course and needs a divorce.

Today I want to take on all these views: the idea we’d be better off without Scotland, the idea that this makes no difference to the rest of the UK and the idea that however much we might care, we in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can have no voice in this debate because we don’t have a vote.


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