Project Fear will not shake sensible Scots

TWO former Prime Ministers and the current Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday unleashed on Scots a dose of the ‘Project Fear’ scaremongering that is the hallmark of the EU Remain camp in England. Over the last few weeks, voters there have been blitzed by apocalyptic predictions on everything from the economy to immigration and even world peace by politicians trying to outdo each other in the hyperbole stakes.

Tony Blair and Sir John Major were in Londonderry and in agreement over an apocalyptic vision of Britain inevitably breaking up after a Brexit vote. Meanwhile, George Osborne was at least in Scotland when he raised the spectre of Brexit triggering a Nationalist surge.

This sort of nonsense plays into the SNP’s hands. The party’s confidence about Brexit extends only to saying it ‘could’ – not ‘will’, not ‘should’ – trigger their so-called IndyRef2.

In truth, the Nationalists fear losing another independence vote. Indeed, as Euan McColm says on Page 12 of today’s Mail, Nicola Sturgeon was on ITV’s debate show last night making a pretty convincing argument for staying in the UK.

Meanwhile, political big beasts are entitled to a view on Europe – both Mr Blair and Sir John were pro-EU while in office and are clearly of the same mind.

But they should credit Scots with more sense.

The Nationalists have had two recent sharp lessons via the ballot box, one rejecting out of hand their independence plans, one pegging back their power at the Scottish parliament by divesting them of their majority.

Scots will vote on June 23 based on a cool assessment of facts and with no regard for superannuated politicians warning of separatist bogeymen waiting in the wings.