Assembly hopes Scots don’t leave us this way.

The London Assembly today welcomed the contribution Scottish people have made to life in the capital and throughout the United Kingdom and expressed its desire to see that union maintained.

A motion agreed at today’s Assembly meeting supports calls for further devolution from Whitehall in Scotland and throughout the UK as part of a fairer constitutional settlement.

But it also argues that Britain is stronger through celebrating the cultures of all the nations and nationalities within the Union.

Fiona Twycross AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“While it’s for the Scottish people to make their own minds up about independence, this historic vote will have an impact on everyone in Britain.

“The London Assembly wants to see power move from Westminster to City Hall in London and we would wish no less for the Scots, Welsh, Northern Irish and regions and cities across England.

”We will all benefit from working together to form a new, fairer constitutional settlement rather that turning devolution into divorce and sacrificing three centuries of togetherness.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, who proposed a successful amendment to the motion, said:

“We are not seeking to lecture the Scottish people on how they should vote but we do want to make it clear how much we value Scotland’s contribution to the UK as a whole and how much we want Scotland to remain part of a United Kingdom.”

The full text of the motion is:

“The London Assembly recognises that the question of Scottish independence is a matter for the Scottish people. However, this Assembly would be deeply saddened in the event of a vote by the Scottish people to leave the United Kingdom.

The London Assembly recognises the importance of our shared identities and values and, while celebrating and respecting the cultures of all nations and nationalities within the Union, we believe we are genuinely better together.

Thousands of Scottish people – and people with close family ties to Scotland, including a number of Assembly Members – live in London. The legacy of the Scottish people in London has, and continues to be, considerable; ranging from the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington to the recent, magnificent redesign of Kings Cross station by John McAslan.

This Assembly believes that maximising economic and social development requires a far greater devolution of powers from Westminster to local, regional, and national governments across the United Kingdom, allowing for decisions to be made at a level where local voices can be clearly heard and reflected. With this in mind, and further to the Mayor’s strong statements on the issue of Scottish independence, we hope that people in Scotland will vote to remain part of the United Kingdom and join us in pursuing our common interest – a fairer constitutional settlement within the United Kingdom.”