PROJECT Fear is already in “overdrive” just days after the route map to indyref2 was announced, it has been claimed.
Douglas Chapman, the SNP MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, highlighted a hysterical report in the “ultra-Tory” Daily Telegraph, which claimed Scots would be banned from ordering luxury hampers from posh London department store Fortnum & Mason.
The paper reports a whole host of products, including “fresh English sausages, live mussels and unfrozen lasagne” as well as Marks & Spencer hampers, would no longer be sold north of the Border after independence.
Hampers from the famous Piccadilly department store can cost as much as £2500.
Its special Platinum Jubilee mix of goodies, delivered in a branded wicker basket, costs £500 and contains English Sparkling Brut, Côtes de Provence rosé, as well as smoked salmon, wedges of Stilton, and slices of cured meats and other luxury goods.
Chapman quipped: “We have had a family meeting and concluded that we would survive.”
The Telegraph report claims that, in the event of independence and Scotland re-joining the EU, Brussels would insist Scotland treat England as a “third country”, meaning trade would be restricted as it is with other non-member states.
The story goes on to state that English “dog, cats and ferrets” would need to be vaccinated three weeks before crossing the Border and that racing pigeons and racehorses would “face new bureaucratic hurdles to clear” before competing in Scotland, due to EU rules.
Hampers from Fortnum & Mason, based in a plush area of central London, cannot be delivered to Northern Ireland, the paper also points out.
Other UK companies have stopped exporting goods to the province due to the trade burden imposed by the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol.
The report warned independence would see the same difficulties which have faced Northern Ireland, which remains part of the UK, visit Scotland, only worse.
The report added: “The price of Brexit freedom was new border frictions with the EU, the UK’s biggest trading partner.
“Rejoining the EU would not make up for the income Scotland would lose in leaving the United Kingdom and its frictionless internal market.
“Nicola Sturgeon insists she doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes of Brexit.
“If she throws up barriers with the rest of the UK, she risks doing exactly that.”
Project Fear, the nickname given to the Unionist campaign's tactics in the run up to the first independence vote, gave rise to stories including the possiblity Scots would no longer be able to watch EastEnders after a Yes vote.
