Scottish independence: Salmond says independent Scotland 'will not be foreign'
Alex Salmond will criticise a "myopic Westminster elite" during his speech in London The Scottish first minister is to say that Scotland and England will not be "foreign" to each other even if the political union between the two ends.
In a lecture in London, Alex Salmond will insist that cross-border ties of family and friendship will endure if Scotland votes for independence.
He will also claim Chancellor George Osborne's recent speech on sterling was "a monumental error".
The Better Together campaign said Mr Salmond's comments were an "own goal".
The referendum on Scottish independence will be held on 18 September, when voters will be asked the yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
Mr Salmond will describe the referendum as "Scotland's hour" as he delivers the New Statesman lecture, entitled Scotland's Future in Scotland's Hands, on Tuesday evening.
Last month, Mr Osborne ruled out a formal currency union with an independent Scotland, a position that was backed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, had previously called on people elsewhere in the UK to urge Scots to vote against independence.
Mr Salmond is expected to say in his speech: "In the last three weeks people in Scotland have seen an array of approaches from the UK government - what they apparently call their 'Dambusters strategy'.
"We were love-bombed from a distance by David Cameron, then dive-bombed at close range by George Osborne.
"I believe George Osborne's speech on sterling three weeks ago - his 'sermon on the pound' - will come to be seen as a monumental error.
"It encapsulates the diktats from on high which are not the strength of the Westminster elite, but rather their fundamental weakness.
"In contrast, we will seek to engage with the people of England on the case for progressive reform."
Mr Salmond will also renew his criticism of Mr Osborne for suggesting Scotland would be a "foreign" country if voters backed independence.
"Scotland will not be a foreign country after independence, any more than Ireland, Northern Ireland, England or Wales could ever be foreign countries to Scotland," he will say.
"We share ties of family and friendship, trade and commerce, history and culture, which have never depended on a parliament here at Westminster, and will endure and flourish long after independence.
"But the current 'dambusters' rhetoric has betrayed an attitude as antiquated as it is unacceptable.
"From the myopic perspective of the Westminster elite, Scotland is last among equals."
A Better Together spokesman responded: "This speech is a spectacular own goal from the first minister. Not content with telling every expert or employer they are wrong, Alex Salmond now wants to pretend that a poll showing support for separation falling because of his failure to tell us what will replace the pound never happened.
"With poll after poll showing that people living elsewhere in the UK don't support a currency union, the SNP must face up to reality. Rather than engage in his usual name calling and personal attacks, it's time for Alex Salmond to tell the people of Scotland what his Plan B on currency is. Would we rush to adopt the Euro or would we set up an unproven separate currency?
"People in Scotland know that a vote to leave the UK is a vote to lose the strength and security of the pound, with the negative impact that would have on the cost of mortgages, credit card bills and car loans."
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