GEORGE Osborne's stance that the only way now to stop Scotland becoming independent is to refuse a second referendum has been described as a view "worthy of a tin pot dictator".
The former Tory Chancellor, who controversially said that an independent Scotland could not use the pound, argued that the campaign used by the Pro-Union side in 2014 - of pushing the pro-Union message and "badging UK projects with a little Union Jack" - was now unlikely to work.
READ MORE: New indyref2 Plan B backed by Joanna Cherry submitted to SNP conference
So, he added: "The only way you can have legal path to independence is through a referendum that is voted for by the House of Commons. So don't vote for one. Whatever the provocation. Just say no, Boris, and save yourself a long anxious night in Downing Street.
"How to save the Union? Boris should just say no to a referendum and save himself a long anxious night."
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SNP figures furiously hit out with MP Tommy Sheppard saying such words were worthy of a "tin pot dictator".
He told The National: "This is a reaction worthy of a tin pot dictator. The more they say no, the more people will say yes and the Conservative Government will have to ask themselves whether they want to maintain a Union by consent or by coercion.
"And if the latter that will not only be seen as anti-democratic and unsustainable, but it will bring them into disrepute across the world."
Chris McEleny said Osborne's words underlined why a Plan B o achieve independence without having to get agreement from the Tory government.should be included in his party's manifesto for the May elections.
"The UK Government have been clear that they will oppose, and block a referendum on Scottish independence, and now the former Chancellor of the Exchequer let’s the cat out of the bag by saying that Boris Johnson should simply just keep refusing to agree to a referendum to stop Scots voting for it - as there now isn’t a case he feels can win a referendum for the pro union side," he said.
"Considering the UK Government have been clear they will not agree to a Section 30 order it would be an act of extreme folly if the SNP do not have a Plan B in the manifesto for the Holyrood elections."
He added: "When I first called for this in 2019 I was booed by a careerist faction at our party conference, the independence movement simply won’t accept the opportunity to vote for independence to be lost again at this May’s election."
Toni Giugliano, SNP candidate for Dumbarton added: “George Osborne is the man who took the EU to court for curbing banker’s bonuses - he was never on the the side of the people then I don’t expect him to be now.
“It’s not for George Osborne or any other Westminster politician to stand in the way of Scotland’s right to choose.
“Majority support for independence is now the established position of the Scottish people. It will allow Scotland to escape the calamity of Brexit and join our neighbours as an equal player.
“Only with the powers of an independent country will Scotland be able to address the deep rooted inequalities created by decades of Tory-Labour mismanagement.”
READ MORE: More than half of Scots back using Holyrood election as indyref2
Osborne went on to say in his Evening Standard column that losing Scotland would mean that Johnson would get the "ignoble title of the worst prime minister ever."
He wrote: "So how can Boris Johnson avoid this disaster — and ignoble title of the worst prime minister ever? For every poll shows consistent support now for independence. The Government has two plans. The first is to win more Scots over to the virtues of the Union.
"Press officers are being hired especially to make the case. We did something similar seven years ago, opening a Treasury office in Edinburgh and badging UK projects with a little Union Jack.
He went on: "That made little difference; what did was holding the Scottish National Party to account for the devolved decisions on things like tax we handed over to them.
"But now the Edinburgh and Glaswegian middle-classes who shied away from the risks of independence in 2014 are recalculating. For what is riskier? Being in Brexit Britain, or becoming independent and rejoining the EU?
"Those who want to keep the UK together need to respond with new, powerful arguments against separation. After all, hasn't the EU negotiations shown Scots that the whip hand lies with the larger, more powerful bloc?"
He added: "Surely SNP claims of easy trade deals, frictionless borders and a rosy future for Aberdeen fishing and Edinburgh finance can now be easily demolished?
"If leaving a loose union with European nations after a mere 50 years has caused such division and debilitation, imagine the trauma of sundering an intense 300-year-old union with those we share this island with.
"But there's a problem: this Brexiteer premier can't say any of this. So what's the second plan? Simple. Refuse to hold a referendum. It's the only sure way you won't lose one.
"Yes, the SNP will be in full cry — but so what? Domestic opposition has already evaporated, with the Labour leader there resigning last week.
READ MORE: SNP NEC votes down motion for independence strategy working group
"As Tony Blair says, no one has been able to mount a fight since Ruth Davidson left the stage. There's a risk that the Scottish Government holds its own plebiscite — but that won't be legal, and the courts will stop the arms of the Scottish state, like the police and civil service taking part.
"Ask the jailed Catalonian leaders how their illegal poll worked out. "
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