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08/04/2014
Lord Robertson: Scottish Independence 'Cataclysmic' For The West
The former secretary general of Nato Lord Robertson has said that a Yes vote in September for the Scottish independence would threaten the stability of the wider world and would be cataclysmic for the West in an era of international turmoil.
Speaking in the US at the Brookings Institution Lord Robertson also said that the US should make its views public, adding that he believed that the American administration is worried about the possibility of and independent Scotland.
The former defence secretary said: "For the second military power in the west to shatter this year would be cataclysmic in geo-political terms."
Adding: "Scottish people need to be conscious that they are taking a decision, not just for themselves and for future generations in a one-off vote, but that it also has an effect elsewhere and people who are affected, or think they will be affected, have every right to speak out."
The Scottish government said the comments were "crass and offensive" while Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's Deputy First Minister said she was "shocked" by the language of the former Labour defence secretary.
She said his comments do "a real disservice to the debate" and added: "I am not shouting down George Robertson, I am saying very clearly that I find his comments deeply insulting."
(CVS)
Speaking in the US at the Brookings Institution Lord Robertson also said that the US should make its views public, adding that he believed that the American administration is worried about the possibility of and independent Scotland.
The former defence secretary said: "For the second military power in the west to shatter this year would be cataclysmic in geo-political terms."
Adding: "Scottish people need to be conscious that they are taking a decision, not just for themselves and for future generations in a one-off vote, but that it also has an effect elsewhere and people who are affected, or think they will be affected, have every right to speak out."
The Scottish government said the comments were "crass and offensive" while Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's Deputy First Minister said she was "shocked" by the language of the former Labour defence secretary.
She said his comments do "a real disservice to the debate" and added: "I am not shouting down George Robertson, I am saying very clearly that I find his comments deeply insulting."
(CVS)
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