THE BOSS of anti-independence campaign group Scotland in Union has quit – apparently because he did not want to work more than 1.5 days a week.
Former Labour MSP and drug cop Graeme Pearson stepped down as chief executive with immediate effect and was replaced by former Labour MP Pamela Nash.
According to The Herald, Pearson had been appointed in January, with a £1000 a week salary for for 1.5 days work.
He admitted at the time he had “never heard” of Scotland in Union, who claim to have around 25,000 supporters.
He told the paper the job had become more time-consuming than he had expected, and it was right to hand over to someone who could give it a larger commitment over the long term.
Pearson is to remain a director of the organisation, and will stay on as a “mentor” to Nash.
His resignation comes just a week after the group performed a cringeworthy Scottish Resistance-style intervention outside Alex Salmond’s first Fringe show.
The group hired a Donald Trump impersonator to photobomb the former First Minister and David Davis, while campaigners held a sign saying “Salmond: 30 years of comedy #TartanTrump”.
In a statement, Scotland in Union founder Alastair Cameron said Nash’s appointment marked “a new phase in our campaign”.
“Pamela’s experience in campaigning will be a real asset to Scotland in Union and she will be a strong advocate for the majority of Scots who want to stay in the UK.
“Her appointment marks a new phase in our campaign as we look to move past the unwanted threats of a second referendum and help create a Scotland which prospers and thrives in the UK.”
Nash said: “Like so many other people all over Scotland, I campaigned in the 2014 referendum to keep us part of the UK because I believed it was best for our country. I am proud of my No vote and hoped we could move on together after such a decisive result.
“Sadly, many nationalists are refusing to take no for an answer.”
She added: “I believe there is a real need for a campaign like Scotland in Union to counter the divisive rhetoric of nationalism and remind people why we are better off in the UK.”
Nash was elected MP for Airdrie and Shotts in 2010, but her majority of 12,000 was overturned by the SNP’s Neil Gray in 2015.
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