WHEN I was growing up I thought the Tories were from Mars. I didn’t know any and it seemed culturally engrained that they were ‘The Enemy’.

It wasn’t until I went to Glasgow University that I really began to question that assumption.

I learnt more about Scotland’s world-leading role in the Enlightenment and industrial innovation following the Act of Union.

It became clear to me that Labour had been trying socialism in Scotland since 1945 and it wasn’t working.

A debilitating dependency culture had set into our communities and the Labour Scottish Executive was embarrassing.

I could see we needed to reform public services but Labour wouldn’t take on vested interests.

The Nationalists deserve some credit for shaking up Labour’s complacency, but independence is not the solution to our problems.

Economically, the oil price has now halved since the referendum, leaving a black hole of £3,500 for every Scot.

But, more importantly, independence would mean tearing the heart out of Britain and abandoning our fellow countrymen and women who are in so many ways the same as us.

Scotland created Britain, and Britain is more than just a country – it is a 300 year-old idea of multinational co-operation and a vision of hope for millions worldwide.

We need a strong union and a growing economy so there are real opportunities for people to stay and work in Paisley. I’m voting Scottish Conservative because I want Britain to prosper and Paisley to become the industrial powerhouse that it can be again.