Come clean on your cunning plan for Scexit, First Minister

JOHN Swinney has been urged to come clean on his secret Scottish independence scheme - and how much it is set to cost the taxpayer.

- By Douglas Dickie

Evoking the spirit of Blackadder character Baldrick, the First Minister hinted he had a cunning plan to force the UK Government to grant a second referendum on the issue.

But while the gormless dogsbody played by Tony Robinson would at least explain his plots, the SNP leader told his party conference: "Nobody knows what tactics I will deploy."

He was later backed by his former boss Nicola Sturgeon, who said: "I've known John Swinney for a long time and if he says he has a secret plan, he has a secret plan."

Obsession

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton has written to Mr Swinney telling him to explain his grand idea fully to the Scottish electorate.

She tells Mr Swinney he has a "lifelong obsession with independence" which he hasn't given up despite the country deciding it "wanted to remain in the United Kingdom in a referendum".

She pointed out public cash had been used to campaign for the breakup of the United Kingdom and said the SNP had "completely the wrong priority" and that the public "deserves transparency".