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Scots leader hits out at ‘scaremongering’ UK parties
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Scottish leader Alex Salmond warned yesterday that British politicians risk provoking a backlash in Scotland by running a negative campaign against independence and refusing to let Scots keep the pound if they vote to go it alone.
Salmond is fighting a closely choreographed attempt by London to scupper Scotland’s September 18 vote for independence by undermining his central economic case that Scotland could be a prosperous, independent nation.
Salmond accused Westminster of launching a “diplomatic offensive” against independence and of trying to “dictate from on high” after the three main UK parties joined forces to rule out a currency union with an independent Scotland.
“It is a sign of how out-of-touch and arrogant the Westminster establishment has become,” Salmond told business leaders in Aberdeen.
“No one doubts that Scotland can be a successful, independent country ... the issue is not whether we could be independent, but if we should be independent.”
Twin pillars of Salmond’s independence plan — keeping the pound and negotiating European Union membership — have been shaken in recent days.
UK finance minister George Osborne warned last week that Scotland could not keep the pound if it votes for independence, while European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Sunday that Scotland would struggle to gain EU membership.
Salmond downplayed Barroso’s comments by saying no EU member had indicated it would block Scottish membership.
He described London tone as “campaign rhetoric.”
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