A row has broken out after the UK Defence Secretary claimed Russia “definitely” has an interest in the independence debate.
Ben Wallace also suggested an independent Scotland could be more vulnerable to terrorism due to a lack of shared intelligence.
SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald hit back by accusing Wallace of "scaremongering".
A report last year by Westminster’s Intelligence and Security Committee found there was “credible” evidence Moscow undertook “influence campaigns” in relation to the 2014 vote.
Pro-UK figures believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is sympathetic to independence as it would break up the UK.
Wallace, Tory Defence Secretary since 2019, was asked by journalists if there is any evidence of Russian interference in the independence debate.
He said: “I think what we’ve seen is Russia and other nations take an interest to magnify division in nationalist debates around Europe, including Scotland.
“I can’t talk about the here and now but I could say there is definitely an interest - and more than that.”
On whether an independent Scotland would be safer or more vulnerable to terrorist threats, he said: “An independent Scotland wouldn’t benefit from the heft that the United Kingdom can deliver in delivering counterterrorism overseas and domestic peace.
“So the ability to have an intelligence service deployed throughout numerous embassies around the world, the scale of the Foreign Office that you need to reach global terrorism, which obviously of course now spans numerous countries, means that on your own you would be lesser and [less] able therefore to share intelligence.”
He added: “You probably wouldn’t benefit from the Five Eyes [a shared intelligence deal] because you would have left the United Kingdom and therefore be not part of the Five Eyes treaties and arrangement that has been in existence since the late 1940s.
“And without intelligence, you are definitely more vulnerable.”
Wallace also criticised former SNP First Minister Alex Salmond for presenting a show on Russia-backed broadcaster RT.
“No one’s credibility is served by going on Russia Today,” he said.
Addressing the claims, McDonald said: “These comments from Ben Wallace are just more of the same old scaremongering. Clearly the Tories are rattled about the level of support for independence.
“These comments are especially rich, given the UK government has a record of underestimating and failing to respond to Russian interference – as set out just last year in the Commons Intelligence Select Committee report. Since that report was published, not a single recommendation has been acted on.
“The substance of his claim that an independent Scotland would be more vulnerable to terrorism is nonsense – independent nations large and small, across Europe and beyond, cooperate on intelligence gathering all the time, and Scotland is no different.
“An independent Scotland, as a member of NATO and the EU, will act as a credible, reliable and responsible ally. I look forward to setting out that case ahead of a referendum on Scotland’s future.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
