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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Alex Salmond is behaving like Kim Jong-il, says Alistair Darling | Alex Salmond is behaving like Kim Jong-il, says Alistair Darling |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Alistair Darling has compared the behaviour of Alex Salmond to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and said the Scottish independence referendum campaign has become mired in threats and intimidation. | Alistair Darling has compared the behaviour of Alex Salmond to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and said the Scottish independence referendum campaign has become mired in threats and intimidation. |
| In an interview in the New Statesman, the leader of the pro-UK Better Together campaign argues: "[Salmond] said on the BBC that people voted Ukip in Scotland because English TV was being beamed into Scotland. This was a North Korean response. This is something that Kim Jong-il would say." | |
| In fact, Salmond said: "Ukip is a party that gets beamed into Scotland courtesy of the BBC." | |
| Describing a "culture of intimidation" characterised by online bullying, Darling goes on to say: "When I started doing this two years ago I didn't believe you'd be in a situation in a country like ours where people would be threatened for saying the wrong thing. Business people keep telling me that it is happening as a matter of fact. They say to me, 'We'd like to come out and support you but …'" | |
| Referring to "cybernats", a term that has come into common usage amongst pro-union supporters to describe the allegedly bullying behaviour of pro-independence supporters online, he adds: "It's not just the cybernats and what they do and the things they call our supporters. People in business are frightened to speak out. I was speaking to a senior academic who told me he'd been warned by a senior Scottish nationalist that if he carried on speaking like this, it would be a pity for him. It's a real, real problem for us. We ought to be able to express our views without fear of the consequences." | |
| Darling says he has not personally been threatened but says those in less high profile positions are more vulnerable. | Darling says he has not personally been threatened but says those in less high profile positions are more vulnerable. |
| "I haven't been threatened – they wouldn't threaten me – but if you are a member of the public and you are trashed for having your say, what do you do? You stop it. No one wants to live in a country where this sort of thing goes on. A culture has been allowed to develop here. This is not a modern civic Scotland." | "I haven't been threatened – they wouldn't threaten me – but if you are a member of the public and you are trashed for having your say, what do you do? You stop it. No one wants to live in a country where this sort of thing goes on. A culture has been allowed to develop here. This is not a modern civic Scotland." |
| Darling goes on to challenge Salmond to a televised debate. The first minister has said that he is willing to debate only with David Cameron. | Darling goes on to challenge Salmond to a televised debate. The first minister has said that he is willing to debate only with David Cameron. |
| A spokesman for Salmond demanded an apology from the former chancellor, stating: "Alistair Darling demeans himself and his colleagues in the no campaign with these pathetic, puerile remarks for which he should now apologise. The debate on Scotland's future is one that deserves far, far better than boorish and abusive personal insults, as do the people of Scotland. | A spokesman for Salmond demanded an apology from the former chancellor, stating: "Alistair Darling demeans himself and his colleagues in the no campaign with these pathetic, puerile remarks for which he should now apologise. The debate on Scotland's future is one that deserves far, far better than boorish and abusive personal insults, as do the people of Scotland. |
| He added: "Mr Darling has called for a positive debate free from abuse – he should now aim to live up to that pledge, and stop trying to divert attention from the real issues." | He added: "Mr Darling has called for a positive debate free from abuse – he should now aim to live up to that pledge, and stop trying to divert attention from the real issues." |
| Stewart Kirkpatrick, head of digital at Yes Scotland, responded: "We encourage people on both sides of the debate – and that includes Mr Darling – to always express their opinions in a reasonable, respectful and courteous manner and we have issued robust social media guidelines stressing these vital points. Abuse, from wherever it comes, is unacceptable." | Stewart Kirkpatrick, head of digital at Yes Scotland, responded: "We encourage people on both sides of the debate – and that includes Mr Darling – to always express their opinions in a reasonable, respectful and courteous manner and we have issued robust social media guidelines stressing these vital points. Abuse, from wherever it comes, is unacceptable." |
| Kirkpatrick added: "It is incumbent on both sides of the referendum to behave in such a way that is a credit to Scotland. On the whole this is indeed the case, apart from a small minority on both sides who let down themselves and the debate about their country's future." | Kirkpatrick added: "It is incumbent on both sides of the referendum to behave in such a way that is a credit to Scotland. On the whole this is indeed the case, apart from a small minority on both sides who let down themselves and the debate about their country's future." |
| In a poll for the Scottish Sunday Express conducted in March, it was found that 21% of those planning to vote Yes have received abuse or threats compared to 8% of those planning to vote No. | In a poll for the Scottish Sunday Express conducted in March, it was found that 21% of those planning to vote Yes have received abuse or threats compared to 8% of those planning to vote No. |