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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Scottish independence: Lord Robertson says Yes vote 'would be cataclysmic' | Scottish independence: Lord Robertson says Yes vote 'would be cataclysmic' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The former secretary general of Nato has said that Scottish independence would be cataclysmic for the West in an era of international turmoil. | The former secretary general of Nato has said that Scottish independence would be cataclysmic for the West in an era of international turmoil. |
| Speaking in the US, Lord Robertson said a "debilitating divorce" after a "Yes" vote in September would threaten the stability of the wider world. | Speaking in the US, Lord Robertson said a "debilitating divorce" after a "Yes" vote in September would threaten the stability of the wider world. |
| He said he believed the US administration was worried about the possibility of Scottish independence. | |
| The Scottish government said the comments were "crass and offensive". | The Scottish government said the comments were "crass and offensive". |
| Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was "shocked" by the language of the former Labour defence secretary. | Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was "shocked" by the language of the former Labour defence secretary. |
| Lord Roberston was speaking at the Brookings Institution where he said the US should make its views public - as should all British allies. | Lord Roberston was speaking at the Brookings Institution where he said the US should make its views public - as should all British allies. |
| In a strongly-worded speech, he said: "The loudest cheers for the break-up of Britain would be from our adversaries and from our enemies. | In a strongly-worded speech, he said: "The loudest cheers for the break-up of Britain would be from our adversaries and from our enemies. |
| "For the second military power in the west to shatter this year would be cataclysmic in geo-political terms." | "For the second military power in the west to shatter this year would be cataclysmic in geo-political terms." |
| He went on to urge "Britain's allies" to speak out and to say that an independent Scotland would "affect them as well". | He went on to urge "Britain's allies" to speak out and to say that an independent Scotland would "affect them as well". |
| Lord Robertson added: "This is not a purely domestic matter even though it's a decision that will be taken by the Scottish people. | Lord Robertson added: "This is not a purely domestic matter even though it's a decision that will be taken by the Scottish people. |
| "The 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 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." |
| In response to the comments, Ms Sturgeon said that given Lord Robertson's "long-standing" opposition to independence, she was not surprised. | In response to the comments, Ms Sturgeon said that given Lord Robertson's "long-standing" opposition to independence, she was not surprised. |
| However, she added: "On another level though I am quite shocked at these comments. | However, she added: "On another level though I am quite shocked at these comments. |
| 'Deeply insulting' | 'Deeply insulting' |
| She went on: "The contribution George Robertson made last night, and particularly the language he has used to make it in, I think does a real disservice to the debate. | She went on: "The contribution George Robertson made last night, and particularly the language he has used to make it in, I think does a real disservice to the debate. |
| "I am not shouting down George Robertson, I am saying very clearly that I find his comments deeply insulting. | "I am not shouting down George Robertson, I am saying very clearly that I find his comments deeply insulting. |
| "He is of course the man that predicted that devolution would kill the SNP stone dead, so his predictions perhaps don't hold too much water." | "He is of course the man that predicted that devolution would kill the SNP stone dead, so his predictions perhaps don't hold too much water." |
| Ms Sturgeon said she wanted to have a rational debate. | Ms Sturgeon said she wanted to have a rational debate. |
| In a plea to the former politician, she said: "I'm not the person using language like cataclysmic and suggesting that independence would aid the forces of darkness. | In a plea to the former politician, she said: "I'm not the person using language like cataclysmic and suggesting that independence would aid the forces of darkness. |
| "I would invite George Robertson to come back into the realms of decent and rational debate, because that is the kind of debate we should be having." | "I would invite George Robertson to come back into the realms of decent and rational debate, because that is the kind of debate we should be having." |