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Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned against any bid to break Britain apart, saying it would be "a crazy" step 300 years after Scotland and England united. Blair's warning Tuesday came as the Scottish National Party (SNP) used the anniversary of their union to launch a fresh drive for independence, while some opinion polls suggested a majority of Scots and English want to separate. Speaking at his monthly press conference, Blair said Britons should celebrate "with pride" Tuesday's tercentenary of the merger of the Scottish and English parliaments. "In commerce, in trade, in security and above all in shared values,...

Tony Blair mounted a strong defence of the 300-year-old union of Scotland with England yesterday, saying it would be "crazy" for Scotland to quit the UK. His warning came as wrangling between politicians north and south of the border overshadowed the low-key anniversary celebrations. Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party, said the lack of events showed there was little public enthusiasm for the Union. Even Gordon Brown, who has recently emerged as the champion of the Union, left for a trip to India yesterday, pulling out of hosting a party in London to launch a £2 coin to...