‘Cataclysmic’ result of UK break-up
THE break-up of the UK would be ‘cataclysmic’ for the Western world and would be ‘cheered’ by our enemies, the former Nato secretary general has warned.
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen used a hard-hitting speech in the US to raise fears about the impact of a Yes vote for ‘the stability of the world’. The Labour peer, who was Defence Secretary under Tony Blair, urged Britain’s international allies to speak out ahead of September’s referendum.
But his speech was branded ‘ insulting and offensive’ by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Lord Robertson said: ‘The loudest cheers for the break-up of Britain would be from our adversaries and from our enemies. For the second military power in the West to shatter this year would be cataclysmic in geopolitical terms.
‘If the United Kingdom was to face a split at this of all times, and find itself embroiled for several years in a torrid, complex, difficult and debilitating divorce, it would rob the West of a serious partner just when solidity and cool nerves are going to be vital. Nobody should underestimate the effect all of that would have on existing global balances, and the forces of darkness would simply love it.’
Miss Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: ‘Lord Robertson is a longstanding and very vociferous opponent of independence, so on one level I perhaps shouldn’t be too surprised by the comments that he’s made.
‘On another level, though, I am quite shocked at these comments. The contribution George Robertson made last night, and in particular the language he’s used to make it in, I think does a real dis- service to the debate. Look at some of the language. That just completely moves away from any semblance of rational debate and I think many people, whether they’re Yes or No, will find these c o mments insulting and offensive.’
But Lord Robertson told the same programme that he wanted other countries to speak out about the impact Scotland leaving the UK could have.
He said: ‘If people are worried about it, and I know they are, then I would hope that they would give the message that they would like the United Kingdom to stay together.’