Indy ref ‘yes’ vote could spawn cronyism

An independent Scotland could face the “real danger of cronyism” with power concentrated in the hands of a few, a top Tory has warned.

Scottish Conservatives chairman Richard Keen QC has issued the chilling warning about Scotland’s future if there is a Yes vote.

The senior lawyer drew parallels with Ireland and its historic problems with corruption, warning a “with us or against us” attitude could exist among those running the country.

The Tory chief also ripped into Labour’s plans for enhanced devolution just days after the opposition parties signed a pact to work together on more powers in the event of a No vote.

The QC also predicted the referendum outcome could be as tight as 53% in favour of the Union and pledged that any Tory caught indulging in online abuse will be thrown out of the party.

Asked about criticisms the Scottish Government is autocratic and what implications this could have for an independent Scotland, he said: “The experience of Ireland from 1922 to 1972 tells you that where you are a very small country with a governing body drawn from a very small cohort there is always a very real danger of cronyism.

“The attitude, you are either with us or against us that permeates government in all very small countries or regions, let’s be frank about it.

“So can you ignore that? Of course you can’t.

“Has there been a propensity for Alex Salmond to appoint his own people to posts? Yes, of course there has. Would that continue? Yes, of course it would.”

Mr Keen also said Better Together had a slow start to its campaign and described Labour’s latest devolution offering as “incoherent, unworkable, confused and the product of a horrible compromise with the Labour party at Westminster”.

SNP MP Angus MacNeil said: “Richard Keen is quick to forget it was the Westminster system that brought us the cash-for-honours scandal.“