THE Better Together campaign's former top strategist Blair McDougall has been accused of “bullsh*t” in a row about raising pensions in an independent Scotland.
Believe In Scotland hit back at “the man behind a string of Better Together lies” in a post exposing claims made by the No campaign.
SNP MP Ronnie Cowan had shared a picture of himself with a Believe In Scotland leaflet highlighting the UK’s abysmal state pension.
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The pro-Yes group backs a move to a £200-a-week state pension in an independent Scotland.
Cowan said: “This is how we win. This is how we took #Inverclyde from 26% yes to 49.99% in 2014. Door by door, person by person.
This is how we win.
— Ronnie Cowan MP (@ronniecowan) October 2, 2021
This is how we took #Inverclyde from 26% yes to 49.99% in 2014.
Door by door, person by person.
There is no magic wand, no easy way. It’s the graft of the activists that will win the day. #indyref2 pic.twitter.com/HI1clO64KR
“There is no magic wand, no easy way. It’s the graft of the activists that will win the day. #indyref2.”
McDougall quoted that tweet, replying: “What I don’t understand is why only promise £200 a week? Why not £300? £1000? If you’re going to bullsh*t at least put your back into it.”
Believe In Scotland responded that “no one is as well acquainted with ‘bullsh*t’ as Better Together’s Blair McDougall”.
Better Together strategist Blair McDougall scorns Believe in Scotland’s plan to improve the lives of Scottish pensioners.
— Business for Scotland (@BizforScotland) October 5, 2021
He’s got some cheek when you consider Better Together lies in 2014. https://t.co/tURNYhC1ix
The group said: “The man behind a string of Better Together lies in the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum had the brass neck to challenge the accuracy of Believe in Scotland’s campaign.
“We wouldn’t usually use [the word bullsh*t] but McDougall requires a robust response and when it comes to ‘bullsh*t’ Blair McDougall wrote the handbook.
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“The Believe in Scotland pension campaign can easily be afforded in an independent Scotland.
“In fact it’s only the first step to take Scottish state pensions anywhere near the European average.”
Seven of the lies perpetuated by the Better Together campaign are then listed.
These include the claim that only a No vote would “protect your pension” and “guarantee Scotland’s EU membership”.
Other lies cited are that Scotland would get federalism if independence was rejected, pointing to the famous “Vow”, and claims that Scotland “could lead the UK rather than leave it”.
On point five, that “independence would cause an additional wave of austerity to families”, Believe In Scotland wrote: “In fact more austerity has been inflicted upon Scotland by Conservative governments since 2014. We can see even today how the Conservative chancellor Rishi Sunak plans to inflict more pain on the most vulnerable people in society as we emerge from lockdown.
“The chancellor has cut £20 a week from universal credit … money which was given to those most in need to cushion them from the effects of the pandemic. Now those are the very people who will suffer most.
“It’s yet another stark reminder that we are governed by Conservative principles that are out of step with mainstream opinion in Scotland.”
The list of lies is rounded off with the claims that Scotland was “loved”, that we would be unable to use the pound, that roaming charges would return under independence and that Boris Johnson would never become prime minister.
The group added: “Blair McDougall himself assured a BBC debate audience in Inverness in August 2014 that the idea of Boris Johnson ever becoming UK Prime Minister was ridiculous.
“He said he found it inconceivable that a serious political party would ever elect Johnson as its leader. He described him as a clown.
“On July 23, 2019, Boris Johnson was elected leader of the Conservative party and on December 12 that year he was elected Prime Minister.”
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