Nigel Farage has handed Better Together bosses a massive headache by unveiling his plans to join the anti-independence campaign.
The controversial UKIP leader will fly into Scotland just six days before the referendum to try to beef up what he describes as a “negative and lacklustre” bid to save the Union. He is expected to attend a rally in Glasgow and knock on doors in the city.
The revelation comes as a poll shows UKIP are set to win their first seat in the House of Commons with a landslide victory in the Clacton by-election. It has been sparked by the defection of turncoat MP Douglas Carswell.
But his decision has been branded “unwise and unhelpful” by campaigners on the same side.
Glasgow North West MP John Robertson said: “The move could send undecided voters to the Yes camp. He’s doing it to get publicity for UKIP. It’s nothing to do with trying to help the debate. It would be unwise and unhelpful if he comes to Scotland.
“The thought of someone like him, with that sort of arrogance that doesn’t go down well here, in charge of the country might make people vote Yes.”
Despite being a cross-party group Better Together have consistently refused to allow UKIP any role in the organisation. The pro-Union campaign is reeling after a tough week in which its leader Alistair Darling took a pasting in the final TV debate and a landmark TV advert was dismissed as patronising, with some viewers claiming it convinced them to vote the other way.
An appearance by Prime Minister David Cameron at a CBI Scotland event was undermined by the organisation criticising the Conservative stance on Europe.
However UKIP believe Farage’s visit on September 12 will boost the campaign to save the union.
A UKIP spokesman said: “He’s coming to help the No campaign. Better Together has hardly covered themselves in glory recently, or over the last year. They are lacklustre, their arguments are negative and they lack passion and belief in that which is great about Great Britain.
“What Nigel will bring is not mealy-mouthed ‘be scared of independence’ rhetoric but a wholehearted belief in what is good about Britain.
“There’s been too much bean-counting on one side and all the passion has been on the Yes side. It’s time to change that.”
On two previous visits to Scotland Farage was hounded by protesters and forced to take shelter in nearby pubs.
The spokesman added: “We’re under no illusions that the radical unwashed independence group will behave as badly as before. We recognise that Nigel is a Marmite figure but we’re part of the same country, thousands of Scots voted UKIP in May and we’ve every right to come and make the case for the union.”
UKIP chalked up its first victory in Scotland at the Euro elections earlier this year when David Coburn was returned as an MEP.
SNP MSP Aileen McLeod said: “Nigel Farage campaigning against an independent Scotland is a huge embarrassment and a blow to the No campaign.”
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