Scottish Independence: Salmond slams scare tactics

The Scottish First Minister hit out during a meeting with Scottish business leaders at Edinburgh Airport.

He also repeated his allegation that the Treasury leaked information to the media over RBS plans to relocate its headquarters to England if there is a Yes vote.

His comments come after a number of banks, businesses and leading retailers voiced their concerns over independence.

Voters will decide the future of Scotland when they go to the polls on Thursday.

Mr Salmond said: “When you try to pressurise people, pressurise companies, as the Prime Minister has undoubtedly been doing and indeed the Treasury, then that’s a different circumstance.

“I think people in Scotland will know the Prime Minister’s fingerprints are all over the scaremongering campaign and the Treasury’s fingerprints are all over the bank campaign.”

Prime Minister David Cameron, who campaigned in Edinburgh last week, was also back in Scotland today.

When Mr Cameron addressed financial services workers last week, he told them it would break his heart if Scots voted Yes and split apart the UK “family of nations”.

Today, he was expected to issue a stark warning to waverers that there could be “no going back” if they opt for independence.

Mr Salmond added: “This is said to be David Cameron’s last campaign visit to Scotland.

“The next time he comes to Scotland it will not be to love-bomb or engage in desperate last-minute scaremongering, and following a Yes vote it will be to engage in serious post-referendum talks in the best interests of the people of Scotland and the rest of the UK, as pledged in the Edinburgh Agreement.”

The First Minister met with business leaders including Brian Souter of Stagecoach and former William Hill chief executive Ralph Topping in a bid to highlight the economic opportunities a Yes vote on Thursday could bring.

“It was Adam Smith who said that no society can flourish and be happy if too many of its people do not benefit from its wealth,” he said.

“We need to heed those words - and the message from Scotland’s job and wealth creators today is that the land of Adam Smith will flourish as an independent country.”