Project smear

Who can forget the term “Project Fear”, first used during the Scottish referendum and then again during the EU one? Alex Salmond used it in a TV debate with Alistair Darling on the former and his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, used it widely during the latter.

Well, it’s back again courtesy of John Swinney. Apparently Scotland won’t recover fully from the Covid crisis unless we vote for independence. This new episode of Project Fear is based on emotion rather than the reality of the economic disaster independence would create. Just look at the Westminster funding provided for furloughing staff and supporting businesses. How much worse would Scotland’s economy now be without it? The SNP continually use smoke and mirrors to mask the benefits of being in the Union.

Back in 2016, Nicola Sturgeon said: “We only have to look at the Scottish independence referendum to know that kind of fear- based campaigning starts to insult people’s intelligence and can start to have a negative effect.” Is John Swinney insulting our intelligence? I’ll let you decide for yourselves.

JANE LAX Craigellachie Aberlour, Moray

The S NP’S Spokesperson for Defence at Westminster, Stewart Mcdonald, was previously a holiday rep in Tenerife.

The SNP’S Justice Minister in Edinburgh, Humza Yousaf, apparently alone among Ministers for Justice in the western world, holds no legal qualifications of any kind.

Both are miles out of their depth. Is it any wonder nonnationalist Scots despair at the direction the country is taking?

ALEXANDER MCKAY New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh