JOHN Swinney’s former chief of staff has vowed to vote No to independence after claiming the SNP have lost the economic argument. Stuart Borrowman, now a West Lothian councillor, said his old party failed to put together a convincing case - made even worse by confusion over our future currency. He also claimed some SNP members of his local authority are ready to reject the party’s core aim. The revelations cap a difficult week for Swinney, who has also found himself embroiled in a war of words with the Bank of England over the future of the pound. The politically neutral bank took the highly unusual step of issuing a statement flatly contradicting comments Swinney made on Wednesday about a sterling currency union after a Yes vote. Swinney had claimed the Scottish Government is involved in “technical discussions” with the bank about implementing their controversial proposals if they win next month’s referendum. A BoE spokesman insisted, embarrassingly for Swinney, that no such discussions had taken place. And Borrowman said currency was key to his decision to vote No. “However much I admire John Swinney - he is a capable and a decent man - they have not assembled a case which stands up to scrutiny,” he said. “The argument is much wider than currency but that is the very obvious problem for them. “In essence, it is a hook on which people who want separation will find it very difficult to get themselves off again.” Former Labour and SNP member Borrowman, who has a background in economic development, worked for Swinney between 2001 and 2002 when he was leader of the Nationalists in opposition at Holyrood. Borrowman became disillusioned with the cause and left the party in 2004 to become an independent councillor. He said: “I know a huge proportion of SNP members do not support independence, just like Labour people don’t all vote No. “It doesn’t make them closed to the arguments. Few people have entrenched views now. “The old party allegiances are not as strong as they were. “There are 15 SNP councillors in West Lothian. There won’t be 15 Yes votes from them in September.” dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/john-swinneys-former-chief-staff-4057902#.U-8y3FB5LPU.twitter
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 10:43:01 +0000
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