Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison has denied trying to stifle academic debate about Scottish independence after a television investigation examined claims of personal attacks and mudslinging on both sides.
The SNP sports minister’s actions in contacting Dundee University about vice-principal Professor Chris Whatley chairing a Better Together event last year were among those probed in the Channel 4 Dispatches programme.
Professor Whatley appeared in a personal capacity as a Scottish historian on the Better Together stage but Ms Robison wrote asking if his views were compatible with the neutrality of the university’s 5 Million Questions project into Scottish independence.
In the programme, a spokesperson for the Deputy First Minister, on behalf of Ms Robison, stressed her questions related to the impartiality of 5 Million Questions and added: “In terms of wider academic views, we welcome all contributions.”
Lord Sutherland, former vice-chancellor of Edinburgh University, described Ms Robison’s approach as “disgraceful,” and continued: “It sends the message that you’re being watched.”
Dispatches contacted 50 companies and business leaders believed to have concerns over independence.
Five told the programme privately they had been contacted by the Scottish Government and felt pressured to stay quiet about their views.
Others said they had been visited or phoned by ministers and two received a call from the First Minister’s office.
Gavin Hewitt, former chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, told how Angus Robertson, SNP leader in the Commons had regularly tried to get the Scotch whisky industry to stay out of the independence debate.
The Scottish Government told Dispatches Mr Hewitt’s claims about Mr Robertson are “utterly false”.
The programme also revealed how emails by Finance Secretary John Swinney led to CBI members quitting that organisation after it publicly backed a No vote.
The spokesperson said Mr Swinney’s comments were in the context of the CBI taking a political stance that raised questions about public bodies remaining members of the CBI and continuing to meet their statutory obligation of impartiality.