Row breaks out over allegations that Salmond 'tried to gag' leading Scots academic who questioned independence . Daily Mail

  First Minister 'put pressure' on St Andrews principal Louise Richardson

  Source said he spent ten minutes trying to 'put words in her mouth'

  She then rejected the 'suggested statement', according to Daily Telegraph 

A spectacular row broke out last night over Alex Salmond’s alleged attempts to silence a leading Scottish academic who questioned independence.

The first minister tried to force Louise Richardson, Principal of St Andrews University, to tone down warnings about the adverse impact of a Yes vote.

A source said he spent ten minutes attempting to ‘put words in her mouth’

Leaked emails revealed how the SNP leader’s special adviser, Geoff Aberdein, urged Professor Richardson to attack the Westminster government over funding for higher education, the Daily Telegraph said.

He reportedly emailed her press secretary with a suggested statement, reading: ‘The Scottish Government has risen to the challenge on fees in stark contrast to the government south of the border and I’m sure they can rise to the challenge on research funding as well.’

But in a reply, Professor Richardson wrote: ‘I’m sorry but I’m afraid I cannot agree to this statement.’

It is also claimed the First Minister called Professor Richardson, the first female principal of the 600-year-old institution, and told her to rectify remarks she made about the consequences of Scotland leaving the UK.

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Allan Massie: The UK’s value is immense, The Scotsman

by ALLAN MASSIE

In any democracy, many people endure a government they didn’t vote for. There is still time to think, writes Allan Massie

I can understand why many will vote Yes. I can’t fathom the thinking of those who say: “Let’s give independence a try.” This is like saying, “Let’s try suicide”. If you bring it off, there’s no way back.

Independence is not an experiment we can abandon if we decide it isn’t working. It’s not like resigning from a club because you’ve fallen out with the committee and then re-applying for membership a few years later.

I’m lucky. I’ve never had any difficulty deciding how to vote tomorrow. I’m a Unionist, always have been. Of course, like almost every Scot, I’ve had my nationalist moments, sometimes sparked by momentary indignation when I’ve muttered “Bloody English”, other times patriotically proud or boastful when I think that no small nation except, one admits, the Jews and the Ancient Greeks, has given more of value to the world than the Scots.

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The Seriously Nasty Party: With one day to go, damning evidence of the bullying intimidation of voters by Scots nationalists (just ask Miliband) Daily Mail

Pro-union voters have endured stone-throwing and been called traitors

Many are now said to be too scared to show their support of a No vote

Ed Miliband was forced to abandon visit to Edinburgh shopping centre

The dark side of the campaign for Scottish independence can be laid bare today.

In a string of sinister incidents, separatists have used bullying and intimidation to cow their rivals.

Pro-union voters have endured stone-throwing, been called traitors and faced threats that their houses will be torched.

Many are now said to be too scared to show their support for fear of reprisals that might follow a defeat for the nationalists in tomorrow’s vote.

Yesterday, Labour leader Ed Miliband was forced to abandon a visit to an Edinburgh shopping centre after he was surrounded by Yes supporters who jostled him and branded him a ‘****ing liar’. His minders had to step in to escort him to safety.

Further acts of intimidation have been reported by the No camp across Scotland, including:

·         Hundreds of campaign boards have been daubed with offensive graffiti or destroyed;

·         Homes with ‘No Thanks’ posters have been pelted with eggs and one householder in Edinburgh had ‘traitor’ etched into his front door;

·         Farmers have received anonymous phone calls saying their livestock will be set loose unless they take down campaign boards

·         Nationalists have bragged on Facebook about ripping down No signs and posted videos of them stamping on the posters

·         Pro-union canvassers been called ‘loyalist scum’ and ordered to hand over details of supporters so their ‘houses can be burned down’. 

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