Unionist campaign calls on Blair to embrace its cause

Chief Scottish Political Correspondent

Monday 21 May 2012

ONE of the leading figures in the campaign against Scottish independence has revealed that Tony Blair may be recruited to the fight to keep the UK together.

FUTURE TENSE: Tony Blair may answer a call to arms for the Unionist camp in a move that may help polarise the independence debate yet further. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty.

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ROBBIE DINWOODIE CHIEF SCOTTISH POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Alistair Darling, who served in Mr Blair's Cabinet before becoming Gordon Brown's chancellor, said he hoped Mr Blair would answer a call to arms and become involved in two key debates: the need for growth, and the cause of the Union.

"He's got a lot to contribute and I hope he'll contribute more in the future," Mr Darling told the BBC, adding: "Whether it's the constitution in Scotland or whether it's the economy in the whole United Kingdom, this is the time for people to stand up and be counted."Mr Darling also said he would have no difficulty working with political opponents in the 'No' campaign, explaining: "I think it would be ridiculous to say, well, I'm not going to cooperate with someone who actually agrees with me. You'll see some odd bedfellows on the other side of the argument I suspect."The range of bedfellows in the "Yes" camp will become clearer on Friday when it begins what is being claimed will be "the biggest community-based campaign in Scotland's history" in favour of independence. The SNP's campaignsdirector, Angus Robertson, said: "The Yes Scotland campaign will be about the people of Scotland, and how being independent can make life better for families and individuals across our country."It will be the biggest community-based campaign in our history and will take the case for Scotland being independent into every community across our country."Yes Scotland stands in stark contrast to the anti-independence parties' emerging No campaign, which we are led to believe will put the politicians front and centre."The Nationalist MSP, Kenny Gibson, dismissed Mr Blair's involvement, saying it would "guarantee to increase the yes vote".He said: "Any involvement by Tony Blair urging the people of Scotland to vote no in the referendum would be an absolute disaster for the anti-independence parties."Mr Blair remains deeply unpopular in Scotland and his involvement would only encourage more people to vote yes to independence."Mr Gibson pointed to reports of a summit of anti-independence politicians recently at Mr Darling's home, with Downing Street strategist Andrew Cooper, Tory Constitutional Affairs spokesman at Holyrood David McLetchie, Labour MPs Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy, and Michael Moore's special adviser, Euan Roddin, representing the Liberal Democrats.Mr Gibson added: "These secret summits are worrying. The behind-closed-doors nature contrasts with the outward-looking qualities of the Yes campaign that is speaking to all of Scotland. While the anti-independence camp fights about who gets what role and meets behind closed doors, the Yes Scotland campaign is setting out the positive benefits of how being independent will make life better across the country."Labour sought to cast doubt on whether the referendum would even take place as Scots leader Johann Lamont contrasted the First Minister's delaying with the decisive way Mr Blair called his devolution referendum within months of taking office at Westminster in 1997. She said: "The fact that even at the height of his popularity Alex Salmond didn't want to call his referendum suggests he believed he would lose. We will be ready when – perhaps, if – the referendum comes and will not be complacent."Scots LibDem leader Willie Rennie called for Mr Salmond to work with all parties to set the referendum question."If he has confidence that he can win he should be looking to build the broadest possible consensus around the process used to reach his goal," he said.Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: "Scottish Conservatives are confident Scots will want to remain as part of the most successful social and economic union in the world."

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Unionist campaign calls on Blair to embrace its cause

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