The day after this newspaper goes to print, I sincerely hope the people of Scotland choose to remain as part of the United Kingdom.
Whilst we in Crawley do not get a vote on the matter, many of us here would be deeply saddened if our country was to break apart.
Last Wednesday, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition rightly, in my opinion, were not in Parliament but rather in Scotland to support the Better Together campaign encouraging people to vote ‘no thanks’ to separation.
William Hague took Prime Minister’s Questions, and I was grateful to the House of Commons Speaker for allowing me the opportunity to express how strongly I feel that our great kingdom should remain a united Britain.
As the First Secretary of State said in his response to me, two thirds of Scottish exports go to the rest of the UK; twice as much as to the rest of the world put together. Why put up an international border where these exports are taking place?
With the daily Gatwick links to Scotland we see just how close our country is in terms of the family and economic links.
At a time when people across the world are becoming more connected, I cannot see the benefits in ending a Union which has overcome so many problems, nor in breaking up a country that has achieved so much, such as leading the world by starting the Industrial Revolution and ending slavery, to defeating Nazi Germany and founding the United Nations.
Much has been said about the advantage my own party would gain if Scotland was to leave the UK, but I believe in putting my country first over mere party political interests. I am patriotic as someone with Scottish heritage on both sides of my family and at the same time, foremost as a Brit.
In an ever-changing, increasingly uncertain and smaller world, it does not make sense to be introducing an unnecessary and artificial division in a country that is a source of stability and respect across the globe. As the Prime Minister has said, this referendum is not like any other election where the outcome can be reversed next time if things turns out worse.
There are many of us in Crawley with friends and relatives north of the border, so please take the time today to call, text or email them now to say we are both better together.