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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| PM attacks banker's SNP support | PM attacks banker's SNP support |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair has dismissed a top businessman's support for the Scottish National Party as "self-indulgent and absurd". | Prime Minister Tony Blair has dismissed a top businessman's support for the Scottish National Party as "self-indulgent and absurd". |
| Sir George Mathewson, former Royal Bank of Scotland chairman, announced his support in a letter to The Scotsman. | Sir George Mathewson, former Royal Bank of Scotland chairman, announced his support in a letter to The Scotsman. |
| He backed SNP leader Alex Salmond for first minister and argued that the SNP and independence could liberate Scotland from a "dependency culture". | He backed SNP leader Alex Salmond for first minister and argued that the SNP and independence could liberate Scotland from a "dependency culture". |
| Mr Blair, who is in Edinburgh, claimed separation could bankrupt Britain. | |
| The prime minister launched a Labour campaign which warned that without Scotland Britain could "end up broke". | |
| It's absurd to say that there is not going to be a cost Tony BlairPrime Minister | It's absurd to say that there is not going to be a cost Tony BlairPrime Minister |
| Sir George, who helped make the Royal Bank of Scotland the world's fifth biggest bank, claimed Labour was creating a "fear culture" about independence. | Sir George, who helped make the Royal Bank of Scotland the world's fifth biggest bank, claimed Labour was creating a "fear culture" about independence. |
| "It's difficult to forecast the future, but I see no circumstance where independence would be a serious [economic] disadvantage," he wrote. | "It's difficult to forecast the future, but I see no circumstance where independence would be a serious [economic] disadvantage," he wrote. |
| He also accused the Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition at Holyrood of having a "lack of high quality leadership". | He also accused the Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition at Holyrood of having a "lack of high quality leadership". |
| Mr Salmond said: "Sir George personifies the success in business and public service that we want to see for the whole of Scotland." | Mr Salmond said: "Sir George personifies the success in business and public service that we want to see for the whole of Scotland." |
| The SNP leader added: "He speaks with great knowledge, authority and credibility, and I am hugely encouraged that he has decided to make his views public." | The SNP leader added: "He speaks with great knowledge, authority and credibility, and I am hugely encouraged that he has decided to make his views public." |
| Sir George backed the SNP to take Scotland forward | Sir George backed the SNP to take Scotland forward |
| Dismissing Sir George's comments, Mr Blair told a business breakfast: "You talk to real businesses, talk to the types of people I have just been addressing, and look at the impact of separation on real businesses and real families. | Dismissing Sir George's comments, Mr Blair told a business breakfast: "You talk to real businesses, talk to the types of people I have just been addressing, and look at the impact of separation on real businesses and real families. |
| "It's absurd to say that there is not going to be a cost and a penalty - particularly when the SNP have got unfunded commitments, proposals for a local income tax, and when our two economies are so closely integrated." | "It's absurd to say that there is not going to be a cost and a penalty - particularly when the SNP have got unfunded commitments, proposals for a local income tax, and when our two economies are so closely integrated." |
| Mr Blair's visit came as the SNP unveiled its policy programme for government. | Mr Blair's visit came as the SNP unveiled its policy programme for government. |
| The party plans greater local health control and community sentences for minor offenders. | The party plans greater local health control and community sentences for minor offenders. |
| The Liberal Democrats said the Nationalists were only interested in ending the Union and the Tories said the election must be about issues that really concern people. | The Liberal Democrats said the Nationalists were only interested in ending the Union and the Tories said the election must be about issues that really concern people. |