THE Labour first minister of Wales has called on Scots to resist the "siren call" of independence and the nationalists' "promise of a socialist utopia post separation".
Carwyn Jones said some Labour voters could vote Yes in a bid to "break the shackles of a Tory-led Westminster government". But he called on them to consider if "solidarity" could be achieved by Scotland "walking away from friends, neighbours and partners". With just over a week to go until voters in Scotland decide if the country is to remain in the UK, Mr Jones travelled to Edinburgh to join the referendum campaign.
With polls suggesting increasing numbers of Labour voters could be set to back independence, he said: "I'm here to say to the left in Scotland that the promise of a socialist utopia post-separation is a siren call from the Yes camp that must be resisted. "I know that there are some Labour voters, and others who would say they are firmly on the left of politics here in Scotland, who are open to the idea that independence will break the shackles of a Tory-led Westminster government." Mr Jones said "seeking independence as a remedy to those tensions and frustrations is a false prospectus". He said: "No journey towards social justice can begin by walking away from people who share your values, your struggles and your history. That journey should not begin by walking away from shared victories or shared setbacks, whether on the field of battle or on picket lines and factory floors. "I want to say this to those on the left in Scotland who are considering a Yes vote: can solidarity really be achieved by walking away from friends, neighbours and partners?"