DAVID Cameron’s remarks that Nicola Sturgeon was selling a “false dream” of independence were last night dismissed as untrue and patronising.
The Prime Minister made the comments during a BBC Woman’s Hour interview in which he was asked his views about the First Minister.
“My view is she’s selling a dream, but it’s a false dream. She’s selling the dream of separation,” he told the programme.
“Sometimes in politics, dreams and visions can be terribly exciting and enthuse people.”
But he added: “I think this dream will fade.”
Campaigners last night rounded on the comments, saying Cameron was using a common strategy to patronise women politicians, particularly those who presented a challenge to him.
Kezia Kinder, a member of Women for Independence, said: “Cameron’s rhetoric towards Nicola Sturgeon throughout the General Election campaign has been very sexist, patronising and dismissive. Of course the dream of independence is not going to go away.
“The Yes campaign was about creating a better society and that is not going to fade - and neither is the dream of independence. I think it will come up again and again.”
She added: “Many of the promises made by Better Together have been broken and I believe we will see an independent Scotland.”
The SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie also rejected the remarks.
“If the Tories ever had a dream, it faded in Scotland decades ago – they haven’t won a general election in Scotland for 60 years,” he said.
“The General Election is an opportunity to make Scotland stronger at Westminster with a team of SNP MPs, and help deliver progressive policies across the UK – and that prospect is enthusing people the length and breadth of the country.”
A Scottish Greens spokesman also criticised Cameron’s comments.
He said: “We have no doubt that the question of independence will raise itself again, as do an overwhelming majority of Yes and No voters. In that situation such ignorant comments from a Conservative Prime Minister will only benefit those of us who support independence.”
With polls predicting the SNP could take as many as 57 of Scotland’s 59 seats, the battle to stop the Nationalist surge has become increasingly personal with Sturgeon singled out for attacks by both the Tories and Labour. But while the SNP has repeatedly said the election is not about independence, figures across the political spectrum have said the party’s growing popularity makes independence increasingly likely.
Over the weekend media mogul Rupert Murdoch tweeted that Scottish independence “seemed inevitable”.
Cameron was also asked during the programme whether he could see Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, in overall charge of the party.
He said he did not want to put a limit on her ambition, adding: “I think she’s extremely effective.”
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