RUTH Davidson has seized on remarks by the chair of the SNP’s Growth Commission to claim even senior Nationalists know voters are “sick and tired” of independence.
The Scottish Tory leader urged Nicola Sturgeon to drop her “obsession” after Andrew Wilson advocated the “softest” form of independence that respected “300 years of reality”.
Mr Wilson’s recent 354-page report enraged many on the left of the Yes movement by backing tight public spending and keeping the pound after independence.
It prioritised halving the deficit Scotland would inherit over the first ten years, something which could result in cuts if GDP growth remained at its current low level.
The Institute of Fiscal Studies called it more austerity.
Ms Sturgeon has given her blessing to the report, which SNP members are due to debate - though not vote on - in three national assemblies over the summer.
In an interview with the Sunday Herald, Mr Wilson said he didn’t think Scots were ready yet to vote for independence, and were “leery” of referendums. Applying the hard/soft language of Brexit to independence, the former SNP MSP said: “What we would be hoping for is the softest of possible changes, compared to the hardest that we are seeing Britain dealing with [in] Europe.
“You want us to be respectful of 300 years of reality. Not just for emotional reasons, but for economic reasons as well.”
He said the Labour policy of a 50p top rate of income tax would be “self-harm” and “scapegoat” those earning more than £150,000 a year.
Ms Davidson said Mr Wilson’s remarks reflected public exasperation with the SNP agenda.
She said: “When even the First Minister's closest advisors are telling her that Scots don't want to sever ties with the UK, it's clear the Nationalists are continuing to lose the argument.
"Nicola Sturgeon should stop trying to manufacture repeated grievance in attempt to shift the grounds for another referendum.
"The people of Scotland want to see her failing government sort out schools and hospital waiting times instead of dragging the country back to the arguments of the past."
Meanwhile, one of the architects of greater devolution within the Union has said he might consider supporting Scottish independence because of Brexit.
Sir Kenneth Calman, whose 2009 commission led to new tax powers for Holyrood, told BBC Radio Scotland he resented people assuming he was a Unionist.
Referring to social media abuse, he said: “It makes me feel uncomfortable because I’m a Scot and I wanted to make Scotland a better place.”
Asked if he could be persuaded of the case for independence, he said: “I’ve thought quite hard about it. I still find it difficult to find the reasons for being independent. The ability to link with the rest of the UK is actually quite important.”
Pressed if Brexit might change his mind, he said: “I’m not sure. I’m not positive about Brexit either, as it happens. Our links with Europe are very important.
“If we went to Brexit, and Scotland decided to go independent, of that was suggested, then I would think about it, but I’m not sure at this moment.”
The Calman Commission, known formally as the Commission on Scottish Devolution, was established by a Labour-led vote MSPs in late 2007, after the SNP came to power.
Its final report in 2009 recommended giving Holyrood control of a series of taxes, including stamp duty, landfill tax and air passenger duty, and a constrained form of income tax.
The report was the basis for the 2012 Scotland Act.
An SNP spokesperson said: "The SNP was elected to Holyrood on a mandate of putting forward the question of independence, while Ruth Davidson's party has lost every single election in Scotland since 1965."
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