LEAVING the European Union would lead to a “right-wing” takeover of Scotland, according to Nicola Sturgeon.
The First Minister will claim today that George Osborne and David Cameron will seem like “moderates” compared to the politicians waiting to replace them if the Leave campaign, led by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, is successful next week.
Scottish Vote Leave accused the SNP leader of engaging in “Project McFear”.
“The time has come to brand the ‘Brexit’ campaign for what it is – a bid for a right-wing Tory takeover of the reins of power in the UK,” Sturgeon is expected to say.
“The people leading the case for a vote to leave the EU are on the right of the Conservative Party and will take an ‘out’ vote as their signal to make their power grab complete.
“Make no mistake – a ‘Leave’ win would be a victory for politicians who actually believe George Osborne and David Cameron are moderates, and it would leave Scotland at their mercy.
“Outside the EU but within the UK, with most economic power still concentrated at Westminster, Scotland would be left vulnerable to the most right-wing Tory government in modern history.
“And if we leave Europe, they will take it as a green light to scrap workers’ rights and employment protection, slash public spending as part of their ideologically driven austerity obsession – and would target Scotland for extra cuts.
“There should be no doubt in people’s minds – if Leave wins then Scottish workers and family budgets will be in the firing line.”
Tom Harris, from Scottish Vote Leave replied: “With less than a week to go, here comes Project McFear from the First Minister. How disappointing.”
He continued: “The SNP’s former deputy leader, Jim Sillars, has predicted that as many as 40 per cent of SNP voters back Leave. I wonder how they will feel being branded ‘Tory Brexiteers’ by the First Minister?
“Last week the First Minister shared a platform with the Tories to persuade Scots to back David Cameron’s Remain camp.
“Today she’s making her own distinctive contribution to Project Fear. Scottish voters won’t buy it. They understand that leaving the EU is the only way to control immigration, secure powers for our Parliament and free up millions we send to Brussels every week.
“Voters in Scotland will be wondering why they’re being asked to vote against more powers for the Scottish Parliament, and against more money to spend on our public services.”
The clash comes as a new poll from TNS put Leave on 47 per cent and Remain on 40 per cent. It’s the latest poll suggesting momentum is with Brexit.
Two Guardian/ICM polls on Monday gave Brexit a six-point lead in both phone and online surveys, with 47 per cent for stay and 53 per cent to quit. ORB in the Telegraph put Leave on 49 per cent to Remain’s 48 per cent, and YouGov in the Times has Leave on 46 per cent and remain on 39 per cent.
Yesterday The Sun newspaper’s non-Scottish edition published a front page editorial calling for Brexit.
The momentum has led to difficulties for the financial markets, with the FTSE 100 in London closing down two per cent at 5,923, below the 6,000 mark for the first time since February.
Since Thursday, the FTSE has lost 378 points, with £98 billion wiped off the value of Britain’s biggest companies in four trading days.
Meanwhile, the British Medical Journal backed Remain, saying the health case for Britain staying in the EU is “overwhelming”.
Health was also the focus of a major speech by Jeremy Corbyn at the TUC. The Labour leader, making a rare intervention in the campaign, said: “We have a big decision on 23 June. I value our NHS and admire the dedication of all its staff. I would not be voting for Remain if I thought there was any risk to our NHS whatsoever, the risk to the NHS is if we leave.”
Earlier, with every member of the shadow cabinet behind him, Corbyn seemed to echo comments made by the Queen during the referendum on Scottish independence, when he urged Labour supporters “to think very carefully” about how they vote.
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