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Scottish independence: Alex Salmond speech in Carlisle on St George's Day; ENGLAND: Cumbria: Carlisle:INTScotreferendum.com backdrop / Introductory speech SOT / Alex Salmond MSP (First Minister for Scotland) along to podium and speech SOT**Speech transcript - please check against delivery**- Thank you. It’s a pleasure to speak here in Carlisle on St George’s Day Sir Walter Scott, who married Charlotte Carpenter in the Cathedral here, once wrote that “there are few cities in England which have been the scene of more momentous and more interesting events than Carlisle�. He was referring to your position at the centre of some of the – tussles, shall we call them – which used to break out between Scotland and England. This city changed hands three times during the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries. One of the great Scottish kings, David I, died in Carlisle Castle in 1153. Our greatest king, Robert the Bruce was actually excommunicated in the cathedral. Every candle was extinguished, to symbolise Bruce being cast into outer darkness. I don’t anticipate the candles going out tonight! Instead, I anticipate reflecting on the modern links between Cumbria and Scotland - which for centuries have been ties of culture and commerce, trade and travel, family and friendship. And I’m going to emphasise two points. The first is that the ties that bind the nations of these islands will continue and flourish after Scotland becomes independent. You will remain Scotland’s closest friends, as well as our closest neighbours. And the second point I want to make is that Scottish independence wouldn’t just be good for Scotland; it would be good for all of the nations of these islands - and it would create opportunities for co-operation and partnership which would benefit the north of England more than anywhere else. Scotland’s future is for the people who live and work in Scotland to determine. However I understand that our constitutional debate...