ALEX Salmond has said David Cameron revelations about involving the Queen in the independence referendum suggest he was “in a blue funk” and “willing to stop at nothing to cheat Scotland out of independence”.
The former First Minister said Cameron’s admission should serve as a warning to Scots “next time around”.
He made the comments as he hit out at the former PM who yesterday blamed his “frustration” with Salmond for his decision to lobby the Queen ahead of the 2014 vote.
Salmond exclusively told The National Cameron was “digging himself into a right royal hole” and could end up “pulping his own memoirs by royal command”.
READ MORE: Tories were in a panic in the run-up to indyref1
He said: “He makes claims on BBC TV and then tries to row back on BBC radio and now on SKY TV whines that his underhand tactics were all my fault!
"The way Dave is going he will end up pulping his own memoirs – by royal command.”
Last week the Palace made clear its “displeasure” at the ex-PM’s revelation he had asked the Queen to “raise an eyebrow” ahead of the vote.
The revelation by Cameron is made in a BBC documentary this week, but trailed by the broadcaster last week, ahead of the first episode of the two-part programme. During the BBC interview, the former PM explained he sought to get the Queen involved after a poll put the Yes side ahead. Days before the vote the Queen told well wishers to “think very carefully” about their future.
Salmond said: “According to his own account [Cameron] had a panic attack when he read the referendum polls showing independence ahead at Balmoral on Sunday 7th September 2014. That’s where and when he hatched his cunning plan to drag the Queen into politics.
“On Monday 8th September widespread briefings were issued to the unionist press on the Queen’s supposed “concerns”. Given the Cameron revelations I have little doubt that Downing Street was the source. In response, the Palace released a statement stressing the monarch’s impartiality and, in interviews, I supported their statement by pointing out that the Queen should be above politics and that, under SNP policy, her position remained whether Scotland became independent or not.”
He added: “Every time he opens his mouth on this issue Cameron makes himself look more absurd. All Scotland can take from his memoir is that he was in a blue funk in closing stages of the referendum and was willing to stop at nothing to cheat Scotland out of independence. Now by blurting it all out in his memoirs he has been found out. Scots should take careful note for next time round.”
In an interview with Sky News Cameron yesterday acknowledged his revelations had caused consternation but defended his decision, saying the suggestion he had revealed details of a private conversation with the monarch was not “correct”.
He said: “What I have said in that programme, and I don’t want to add to it in any way, was about conversations between my aides and her aides, actually.”
He added: “Alex Salmond was saying that Her Majesty would be the proud monarch of an independent Scotland.
“There was a frustration in my team and that’s why the conversations between one set of aides and another set of aides took place.”
When pressed further he added: “I don’t want to say any more because I don’t want to make the situation worse than it is.”
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