MR JOHN MAJOR has linked Scottish separatism and Euro-federalism as twin threats to the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. And he has welcomed the intervention of European Commission President Jacques Santer for enabling the Conservatives to draw a sharp dividing line" between themselves and Labour over Europe.
Mr Major was speaking ahead of confirmation of this morning's ICM poll for the Guardian newspaper suggesting a dramatic cut in Labour's lead since Europe moved centre-stage a week ago. According to the poll, Labour stands at 42 points, five ahead of the Tories.
Conservative Central Office sources said they expected the polls to narrow in the final week before polling, but appeared surprised by the ICM finding that Mr Blair's lead was already down to single figures.
And the suspicion that this may prove a "rogue" was compounded by a Gallup Poll for the Daily Telegraph showing Labour with an increased lead of 21 per cent, up five points.
Taking his campaign north of the border, the Prime Minister warned that a Scottish parliament would inevitably lead to conflict with Westminster "and the breakup of the United Kingdom as we know it.
Speaking from his soapbox in Perth, Mr Major told a 500-strong audience "The whole United Kingdom is immensely stronger because Scotland is part of the UK, and I passionately believe that is where it should remain for the future."
But he warned "If we were going to go down the devolution path - and I understand the aspirations of a proud nation - we would be heading inexorably for a conflict between an Edinburgh parliament and a Westminster parliament, and independence for Scotland and the break-up of the United Kingdom as we know it."
However, introducing his local candidates, Mr Major linked the Scottish and European issues and said. "They are going to make sure that that one United Kingdom does not sink into a Europe of the regions, a centralised, federalist
Europe with more authority taken away from the Westminster parliament and handed to the European Parliament, the Commission and others in Brussels."
Mr Major had earlier abandoned his party's "law and order" theme for the day, to resume his criticism of Mr Santer, whose undiplomatic intervention in the British election caused some embarrassment to Labour. Mr Major seized on Mr Santer's attack on Euro-sceptic "doom merchants" as proof that Europe was moving further down the federal path.
"There is now a sharp dividing line between the parties on Europe," he said. "I say no to handing more powers to Brussels in a new employment chapter. Mr Blair says yes. I say no to the extension of qualified majority voting. Mr Blair says yes. I say no to new powers for the European Parliament. Mr Blair says yes. On European control of foreign policy, I say no. Mr, Blair says maybe, and means yes.
Pointing to Mr Blair's description of the Conservatives as a party of "narrow, crabbed nationalism" Mr Major said this was Labour's response to the Tory vision of a Europe of nation states.
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Clearly delighted at the appearance of "clear blue water" between the two parties, Mr Major used Mr Santer's words - "our way ahead is clearly charted ... the ever closer union of our peoples" - to hammer home his message that Europe was moving towards greater centralism.
"I have made it clear that none of this agenda is acceptable to a Conservative government. Labour spokesmen have made it clear that they are in favour of integration," he said.