Another one bites the dust . . .

Another independence scare-story bites the dust, or in this case, more precisely, has been explictly denied.

The Independent on Sunday, quoting UK government sources, suggested that Spain would seek to veto Scottish membership of the EU. The parallel given was Spain's refusal to recognise Kosovo and the claim was based on alleged Spanish fear that Scottish independence in the EU would "encourage separatist ambition" in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

The IoS story has now resulted in what seems to be a stern rebuke from the Spanish Foreign Minister (translation provided via Google translate).

The actual position of the Spanish government is that the referendum on independence is an internal matter for the UK and that Scottish independence and the situation in Catalonia and the Basque Country are "completely different processes in which no parallels can be drawn (translation)". The story in IoS was "strictly false".

It shows how far British ministers are willing to go to try and misinform and, basically, scare people in Scotland. As the First Minister pointed out yesterday, this story was based, not on what Spain was saying, but on a UK government briefing. However, it's a big deal for the UK to have one of its allies forced to deny a story emanating from "senior Foreign Office sources" using quotes from "a senior UK minister".

This is the latest in a string of empty scare-stories from the anti-independence campaign. In future, perhaps they should all come with a special government health warning - "please take with a very large pinch of salt".