THE historic choice before Scots a year from today will be whether or not to stay with the UK and "go forward together" or choose independence and "divert into the unknown", Michael Moore will say in his keynote speech.
The Scottish Secretary will suggest the Nationalist argument - that a "truly Scottish future cannot be a British one" - is not true.
"I am a Borderer and a Scot. I'm proud of those things but ... I have another layer to my identity. I am British and I'm proud of that, too; so are most Scots."
Mr Moore will insist most Scots are "at ease" with their multi-layered identities and have an emotional attachment not just to their communities but also to Scotland and the UK. He will claim Scots will be diminished if they leave the UK.
"We well understand that to leave the UK is to leave behind its structures, its institutions and our Britishness too. You cannot be of the United Kingdom if you are not in the United Kingdom."
Mr Moore will stress that the Nationalists will say "pretty well anything" to persuade Scotland to vote for independence but, in their rush to get rid of the risks, they have changed their story on key issues from Nato and the EU to keeping the pound.
"The Nationalist case shifts with events. By contrast, the case for the United Kingdom is strong and sure," he will add.
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