Annabel Goldie addresses UK Conservative Party Conference

Speaking in the main hall at UK Conservative Party Conference, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said (check against delivery):

Good Afternoon.

This will be my last speech to Conference as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

Now don't cheer too enthusiastically!

I want to use it to speak plainly and bluntly about the road ahead.

Scotland faces a choice, the most important choice she has known in 300 years.

Scotland can choose either the rocky and unpredictable road to independence or the steady and stable path of partnership with England, Wales and Northern Ireland – our British family.

And it is an issue which nobody in this conference Hall or in our United Kingdom can ignore.

It affects us all. Our enduring, 300 year old partnership is at threat.

For Alex Salmond, being First Minister of a devolved government is not a privilege or an end in its own right – it is merely a tool, a rod, a stick, an accelerator to facilitate his march to independence.

The SNP is not a party of government but a nationalist movement using devolved government to further its single goal of separation.

The last few long months have demonstrated that beyond doubt.

For the SNP every issue, no matter how important, is manipulated and distorted into a constitutional row.

Every decision, no matter how pressing, demanding prudence and pragmatism, is sacrificed at the altar of populism.

Every speech is heavily laced with an odious cocktail of grudge, gripe and grievance.

Every opportunity is seized to stoke up English, Welsh or Northern Irish resentment to generate envy.

So it is time for some home truths.

It is time to tell it as it is, Britain needs to wake up.

The face of Salmond is not the face of Scotland.

His belligerent, provocative language is not Scotland's language.

Just listen to this – in the General Election last year, more people in Scotland voted for the parties of our coalition government than voted for Alex Salmond as First Minister this year.

I bet you didn't know that.

The spanner he wants to throw into the United Kingdom works is his spanner, not Scotland's.

And here are some more facts.

Scotland does get more per capita than England spent on public Services.

But Northern Ireland gets even more – as does London.

And fact, the North East and North West of England get similar levels to Scotland.

And fact: When something is given for free in Scotland, something else has to be cut.

So when Alex Salmond decided to extend free prescriptions to people like him, that money was not there to spend on more health visitors – which England has – or a rarer cancer drugs fund – which England has.

Alex Salmond's only mandate is to run the devolved government in Scotland.

He does not speak for all of Scotland, all of the time on every issue. Scotland has two governments and he has to remember that.

Let's face it; he can get too big for his boots.

Indeed, when asked recently by The Times what he would like to be called he said

Wait for it......

"Your High Excellency!"

Well excuse me if I don't prostrate myself at his feet.

I don't and I won't and I never shall.

And that's a Fact as well.

You know, maybe he should have a title.

How about "The Great Pretender"?

Because he is fond of pretending that everything would be just dandy – if only.

If only he had this power or that.

If only this person or that group didn't get in his way.

If only Westminster wasn't there.

If only, if only, if only.....

Well, if only he would get on with his separation referendum. So that Scotland can speak. And vote to stick with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If only he would say what the question will be. So that Scotland can answer it.

And if only we could put this constitutional turmoil to bed.

If only, Alex, then you could stop pretending and Scotland could move on.

And I am fed up with the SNP's suggestion that criticising them or standing up for Scotland in Britain is doing Scotland down.

What utter rubbish.

And what an insult to millions of Scots who have worked, fought and died for Britain.

Scotland represents around 10% of Britain's population.

But 1 in 8 of all the Victoria Crosses awarded worldwide have been awarded to Scots.

Were they doing Scotland down?

No Mr. Salmond, they weren't – none of us is – but you are insulting proud and patriotic Scots.

Because, all too often, it is all about Alex – not about Scotland.

So none of us can sit passively by.

Believe me, this matters to us all.

Because if one bit of our United Kingdom house gets demolished, instability sets in, the rest is at risk.

And we are all better off together. Scotland in Britain is good for Britain.

Being part of a Union is about the sharing of responsibility, risks and rewards.

Put at its simplest, being Scottish and British – or English or Welsh or Northern Irish and British - is a state of mind.

It is the way we feel, it is the way we are, proud of our distinctive cultures and traditions, proud of our partnership together.

It just is.

So in Britain's Olympics I will cheer Jessica Ennis – and I know you will cheer Chris Hoy.

And when Andy Murray wins Wimbledon – and he will – we will all cheer together.

It is time to rally to the cause. Scotland in Britain, the Britain of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland – together, united, stronger, content with what we are and who we are.

So this old bird might be giving her last chirrup as leader, but there are still some trees to perch on, a few more songs to sing.

And I will never tire of making the case for Scotland in Britain.

I will work with all those who back this cause.

It is bigger and more important than any one politician or any one political Party.

So when Jim Murphy says he refuses to share a platform with our Prime Minister to support the Union, I say to him "Shame upon you."

How petty you are to think that your personal grandstanding is more important than fighting for your country's future.

If that's the way you really feel Mr. Murphy, then butt out and leave the fight to those who really care and have the passion to lead it.

This is the time to look forward, to what will be, if we have the courage of our convictions to make it happen.

For me, it is time to pass on the leadership torch – or tree.

I may be going as leader, but I will stay on in politics to fight for my country.

So I say to everyone here today – Join me.

Join me as we stand up and proclaim – we are one United Kingdom.

Being for Britain is not being anti-Scottish. It is wanting and valuing the best of both worlds.

Scottish and British and proud to be both - and proud to be in Manchester saying that - and nobody, nobody, will shut me up or ever take that away from me.

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