Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted he is a “Tory toff” without enough broad appeal in Scotland to lead the fight against independence.
The Conservative leader “humbly” accepted advice yesterday that he was the “last person” the campaign to save the UK would want as its representative.
The admission came during prime minister’s questions at Westminster, as the SNP called again for Mr Cameron to publicly debate with First Minister Alex Salmond before September’s independence referendum.
Amid laughter in the Commons, Ian Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow South West and chairman of the Scottish affairs select committee, said: “Without seeking to give offence to the prime minister, can I tell him that the last person Scots who support the ‘no’ campaign want to have as their representative is a Tory toff from the Home Counties, even one with a fine haircut.”
Mr Cameron responded: “I accept every part of the honourable gentleman’s question.”
He added: “I also humbly accept that, while I’m sure there are many people in Scotland who would like to hear me talk about this issue, my appeal doesn’t stretch to every single part.”
Angus Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster, had earlier reiterated the call for a television debate.
He said: “The prime minister’s anti-independence campaign launched an initiative this week encouraging people outside Scotland to take part in the debate. Given that initiative, why will the prime minister not debate the first minister on television?”
Mr Cameron hit back, saying: “The calls for this debate show a mounting frustration among those calling for Scotland’s separation from the rest of the United Kingdom, because they know they are losing the argument.
“They are losing the argument about jobs, about investment, they completely lost the argument about the future of the pound sterling, they’re losing the argument about Europe.
“Yes, of course there should be a debate, but it’s a debate between people in Scotland.”