British PM says to be 'heartbroken' if Scotland leaves Union

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron speaks during a visit to the offices of financial company Scottish Widows in Edinburgh, Scotland on September 10, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

Cameron appeals to Scotland to stay

EDINBURGH -- British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday urged voters not to vote to leave the union, saying he would be "heartbroken if this family of nations that we' ve put together was torn apart".

Speaking in Edinburgh in a campaign for Better Together, Cameron reviewed Britain's great achievement including British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), National Health Service (NHS) among others, noting that "I care far more about my country than I do about my party."

"I care hugely about this extraordinary country, this United Kingdom that we've built together. I would be heartbroken if this family of nations that we've put together was torn apart," he added, stressing that "This is about heart and head."

In Glasgow, Labour leader Ed Miliband urged voters "Together, not alone. From the head. From the heart. From the soul. Vote No in this referendum. Let's change Britain together."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democratic Pary, was also in Scotland and urged Scots to vote "No".

The three leaders were not campaigning together and had separate schedules in Scotland.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said the three leaders' arrival in Scotland after Tuesday's unexpected joint announcement of the visit would be a boost for the Yes campaign and said it showed "high panic and desperation".

Both Yes and No Campaigns are stepping up efforts to convince more voters with only a week to go until the Scottish independence referendum on Sept. 18.

On Sunday, the published YouGov Plc's survey for the Sunday Times put the "Yes" voters ahead of the "No" voters for the first time with 51 percent against 49 percent.

On Tuesday morning, a TNS poll put the Yes and No campaigns "neck and neck" or equal on 41 percent, backing for the Yes campaign was up from 38 percent last month, while support for maintaining the union had dropped from 46 percent.

In October 2012, Cameron and Salmond signed the Edinburgh Agreement, allowing Scotland to hold an independence referendum in autumn 2014 on the question of "Should Scotland be an independent country?"