Australian prime minister joins Barack Obama in urging Scots not to break up the United Kingdom on 18 September

An independent Scotland would not be in the best interests of the international community, Australia’s prime minister has warned.

After a long-running referendum campaign featuring live television debates, leaflet drops and doorstepping, Scots will finally get to answer the question, “Should Scotland be an independent country?” on September 18.

Tony Abbott became the latest international leader to wade into the debate after US president Barack Obama said his administration had a “deep interest” in ensuring the United Kingdom remained united.

Mr Abbott, who spent two years at the University of Oxford, told the Times: “What the Scots do is a matter for the Scots and not for a moment do I presume to tell Scottish voters which way they should vote.

“But as a friend of Britain, as an observer from afar, it’s hard to see how the world would be helped by an independent Scotland.

“I think that the people who would like to see the break-up of the United Kingdom are not the friends of justice, not the friends of freedom, and that the countries that would cheer at the prospect of the break-up with the United Kingdom are not the countries whose company one would like to keep.”

Turnout in the ballot is expected to be high – it has been suggested as many of 80% of those registered to vote will choose to do so.

