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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Row over bank boss's union speech | Row over bank boss's union speech |
| (4 days later) | |
| The governor of the Bank of England has sparked a political row by praising Scotland's union with England as "successful and prosperous". | The governor of the Bank of England has sparked a political row by praising Scotland's union with England as "successful and prosperous". |
| Mervyn King used the annual Adam Smith lecture in Kirkcaldy to praise the status quo and pay tribute to Chancellor Gordon Brown. | Mervyn King used the annual Adam Smith lecture in Kirkcaldy to praise the status quo and pay tribute to Chancellor Gordon Brown. |
| SNP leader Alex Salmond said public servants were not supposed to get embroiled in political controversy. | SNP leader Alex Salmond said public servants were not supposed to get embroiled in political controversy. |
| Labour's George Foulkes said the SNP's "insularity" was "breathtaking". | Labour's George Foulkes said the SNP's "insularity" was "breathtaking". |
| During his speech, which took place in Mr Brown's constituency and was introduced by the chancellor, the governor said: "Next year we celebrate the tercentenary of the Act of Union, an act strongly supported by Adam Smith. | During his speech, which took place in Mr Brown's constituency and was introduced by the chancellor, the governor said: "Next year we celebrate the tercentenary of the Act of Union, an act strongly supported by Adam Smith. |
| Constitutional option | Constitutional option |
| "And we now have a successful and prosperous union between our two countries with a common monetary institution which embodies the ideas, not only of Adam Smith and his great friend David Hume, but also of the key principles that should govern institutional design." | "And we now have a successful and prosperous union between our two countries with a common monetary institution which embodies the ideas, not only of Adam Smith and his great friend David Hume, but also of the key principles that should govern institutional design." |
| Mr Salmond said that independence was now the most popular constitutional option for Scotland. | Mr Salmond said that independence was now the most popular constitutional option for Scotland. |
| He said: "It is a sign of panic in the breastie of Gordon Brown that basically he arranges for the governor of the Bank of England, a public servant, to get embroiled in politics." | He said: "It is a sign of panic in the breastie of Gordon Brown that basically he arranges for the governor of the Bank of England, a public servant, to get embroiled in politics." |
| Mervyn King is one of the most respected economists and bankers in the world George FoulkesScottish Labour | Mervyn King is one of the most respected economists and bankers in the world George FoulkesScottish Labour |
| The SNP leader added: "The future of the union is a matter of political controversy. | The SNP leader added: "The future of the union is a matter of political controversy. |
| "It is the first code of public service that you don't get yourself embroiled in political controversy." | "It is the first code of public service that you don't get yourself embroiled in political controversy." |
| He said the impartiality of the civil service was at stake. | He said the impartiality of the civil service was at stake. |
| Mr Foulkes, vice-chairman of Labour's Holyrood election campaign, said the Nationalists' reaction was astonishing. | Mr Foulkes, vice-chairman of Labour's Holyrood election campaign, said the Nationalists' reaction was astonishing. |
| He said: "Mervyn King is one of the most respected economists and bankers in the world, in charge of the Bank of England, which this Labour government made independent. | He said: "Mervyn King is one of the most respected economists and bankers in the world, in charge of the Bank of England, which this Labour government made independent. |
| "They cannot take on his arguments or answer his analysis, so instead they attack him for his nationality." | "They cannot take on his arguments or answer his analysis, so instead they attack him for his nationality." |