Scottish Secretary Michael Moore says he is looking forward to a “damn good rammy” in the independence debate but has called on both the yes and no camps to put forward the best possible evidence in support of their campaigns.
Speaking to business leaders in Dundee on Tuesday, Mr Moore said he wanted the outcome of next year’s referendum to be “decided in the pubs of Dundee as well as the television studios of Edinburgh.”
Hailing the four reports and 460 pages of analysis already published by the UK Government, he told members of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce meeting at Abertay University that the coming year would be “disputatious” and would split businesses and families.
“It is a big, big decision and at times it will be quite a fraught one,” Mr Moore warned. “And not just among the politicians. It will divide businesses, it will divide families, communities and everything else.
“I actually think there’s a responsibility on us as politicians to conduct ourselves in a way that minimises that that keeps a lid on some of the wilder rock-throwing.
“Should we furnish you with the best available evidence and arguments? Yes, and that’s what we’re aiming to do through the Scotland Analysis programme.”
Mr Moore said the case for retaining the union enjoyed strong levels of support, investment and political commitment at Westminster.
“I want to get to the outcome having had a damn good rammy, a damn good debate, and confident in the outcome of the referendum,” Mr Moore added.
Earlier, he had met a string of Dundee games developers during a visit to the riverside offices of city firm YoYo Games.
The Dundee One-based name, which announced plans to expand and double staffing levels earlier this year, is best known for its Gamemaker: Studio software.
He said the city was part of a “competitive and dynamic global industry”, and stressed that the UK Government was working hard to secure European state aid dispensation.