ONLY A YES CAN DELIVER THE POWERS SCOTLAND WANTS
The SNP is today highlighting the NO campaign's expert adviser Professor Jim Gallagher’s admission that a No vote would result in no new major powers being devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
As reported in the Daily Telegraph last summer – months before Professor Jim Gallagher was appointed as a special adviser to the anti-independence campaign – he spoke candidly about what a No vote means.
Prof Gallagher said:
"The SNP's objective is independence. But if it was to secure more powers for Scotland they have gone the wrong way about it.
"The idea that (after a No vote) a devolved Scotland would have some kind of defence role is simply ludicrous."
"The idea that (after a No vote) a devolved Scotland would have some kind of defence role is simply ludicrous."
The Daily Telegraph continued:
"According to Prof Gallagher, the idea of Scotland winning some version of "devo max" in the aftermath of a No vote is fantastical. The term as understood by most people is "just independence light" and will never be accepted by Westminster."
Stewart Maxwell MSP, a member of the Referendum Bill Committee, said:
"Strong majorities exist for control over tax and welfare in Scotland, and it is clear that only a Yes vote for an independent Scotland can deliver this.
“Professor Gallagher's candid remarks come as a blow to the NO camp, who have been making various vague noises about a stronger Scottish Parliament but without any detail. It’s vital to remember that the Westminster-led NO camp point blank refused to include 'devo max' as an option on the ballot paper.
“The NO camp change their tune when there are votes to be won – it’s like 1979 all over again. There were promises of better devolution then, and it took nearly 20 years to deliver the parliament we now have.
“There is a pattern emerging here and it shows that you can’t trust a word the NO camp say.
“The fact is that only with a Yes vote can Scotland achieve the powers we need to build a fair society and strong economy. This fact has become even clearer as a result of Professor Gallagher’s comments."
This development comes only a week after the uncovering of Professor Gallagher’s blog post where he admitted an independent Scotland would keep key EU opt-outs, contradicting a central scaremongering message of the NO campaign.
