British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Scotland on Thursday in a bid to keep “the United Kingdom together” amid an independence referendum that will be held by Scottish voters.

“We are better off together. Why? Well, first of all, let’s be practical. Inside the United Kingdom, Scotland—just as much as England, Wales and Northern Ireland—is stronger, safer, richer and fairer,” Cameron said, according to a transcript of a speech he delivered in Edinburgh.

The prime minister said that with the coming referendum in 2014, if Scotland were to gain independence, it would deliver a blow to the U.K.’s “head, heart and soul.” He said that independence could affect the U.K.’s memberships in the European Union and NATO.

Cameron began talks with Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who is the leader of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, to talk over differences leading to the referendum.

“If people in the unions, the churches and in the voluntary sector in Scotland come forward with a substantive idea that they want to see tested, then politicians should listen to the people,” Salmond said, according to a transcript.

He added that when Scottish people vote in the referendum, “they will know what independence is for … they will have a defined proposal from the Scottish Government about an independent future for Scotland.”