Independence: No camp ‘scaremongering’ over banks, The Scotsman

Sir George Mathewson, Ex Rbs Chief Executive.

CAMPAIGNERS for the Union have been accused of “scaremongering” about the impact of independence on Scotland’s financial sector, with a former Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) boss insisting this would be “an opportunity not a threat”.

Sir George Mathewson, a former RBS chief executive and chairman, argued that financial services in Scotland had been “neglected by the Westminster government and its London-centric policy”.

He also claimed that banks such as RBS and Lloyds could “scarcely be described as Scottish banks”, adding that if there was a Yes vote in next month’s referendum it should be the rest of the UK government that should be primarily responsible for dealing with the situation.

Sir George also gave his backing to Scottish Government plans for a currency union with the rest of the UK to be established if there is a Yes vote on September 18, allowing an independent Scotland to continue to use the pound.

These proposals have already been dismissed by the three main Westminster parties and last week First Minister Alex Salmond was accused of a ‘’huge deception’’ over his plan.

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Independence: RBS reiterate ‘Yes’ concerns

Scottish independence: Row over banking sector

Showered by a million poppies: Soldiers stand below a huge red cloud to symbolise Great War dead as they re-enact scenes from the conflict Daily Mail.

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Top Gun pilot probed after crashing £20million jet while flying over home town, Daily Express

AN Italian air force pilot is under investigation for alleged show boating after he crashed his £20 million jet while flying over his home town.

Top Gun Francesco Sferra, 35, was forced to eject from his single seater AMX fighter plane as he swooped low over rooftops but his flight plan should have taken him no where near the built up area.

The jet, which has a top speed of 600mph, smashed into woods close to the town and miraculously no-one was hurt after Sferra steered it away from houses and he parachuted to safety.

Initially he was hailed a hero but local prosecutors are looking at the possibility the AMX crashed due to a technical fault after Sferra had swooped low over his home town of Carovilli near Isernia in central Italy.

The incident is being compared to the "sail by salute" carried out by cruise ship captain Francesco Schettino when he steered the luxury liner the Costa Concordia past the island of Giglio two years ago - only to strike rocks and cost 32 lives.

A source close to the investigation said: "The pilot should have taken off and flown directly north, instead he headed south east we need to know why."

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