Leader: Politicians up to their old dirty tricks

THEY would be above the nasty norms of politics, eschewing political pugilism and putting the positive case for independence. A laudable aim, but it has not taken long for the SNP’s lofty claim to be ringing somewhat hollow.

Last week, the First Minister apologised for misleading MSPs after telling them academic Matt Qvortrup, a critic of the referendum plans, had recanted. He had not, despite pressure from Mr Salmond’s senior political adviser.

Now, a planned protest against Ian Davidson, Labour chair of the Commons Scottish affairs select committee, over his “doing” remarks to a woman Nationalist MP, has been revealed as orchestrated by the SNP to look as though it was non-party-political.

The head of the Nationalists’ student wing, Gail Lythgoe, who works for SNP MSP Joan McAlpine, a Scotsman columnist, sent an e-mail to women academics claiming without foundation that Mr Davidson had a history of bullying and intimidation towards females. Ms Lythgoe’s motives were unmasked in her call for a “non-partisan” protest.

For all their fine talk, there is little the SNP will not do to undermine their opponents and achieve their goal: they will deploy dirty tricks, bend the rules and stretch credulity. In short, they are just like all politicians.

And so when Lord Forsyth accuses Mr Salmond of plotting to sabotage any independence referendum ordered by Westminster and Mr Salmond’s office dismisses the claim, it really is difficult to know what to believe.