No Camp Makes Concerted Effort To Undermine Scottish Confidence

The No campaign has faced criticism today after senior Westminster figures publicly boasted of running a ‘Dambusters strategy’ to undermine business confidence in Scotland.
 
Today’s Herald reports that a UK Government source made reference to George Osborne’s recent Sermon on the Pound being the first move in this strategy, through which Westminster will seek to ramp up its bullying attitude towards Scotland.
 
Additionally, today’s Financial Times carries comments from Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, boasting that Westminster’s bullying on a currency union could lead to business uncertainty – while a Better Together source told the newspaper that Osborne’s scaremongering on the pound was the beginning of a pre-meditated long-term plan to undermine confidence. 
 
Just last night, former Tory Defence Secretary Michael Portillo described the tactics being used by the UK Government in the referendum debate as being used to “scare people rigid”.
 
Commenting, Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford said: 
 
“These comments are a shocking example of the No campaign’s attitude towards Scotland. Political strategy is one thing - but for the UK Government to happily admit that it is actively trying to undermine confidence in the Scottish economy is totally reprehensible.
 
“However, the fact that the UK Government has admitted that George Osborne’s Sermon on the Pound was simply the opening salvo in a pre-meditated campaign strategy shows the Chancellor’s intervention for what it was – campaign rhetoric designed to bully people in Scotland into voting No and not a realistic description of what will happen after a YES vote. 
 
“The barely concealed joy that the Westminster establishment is taking in attempting to create threats to Scottish jobs is completely outrageous – and Danny Alexander and the No campaign should be ashamed for their part in it.”