Police are investigating a claim by the organiser of the Yes Kirkcaldy campaign that she was racially abused by a No campaigner.
Marie Penman said a self-proclaimed No voter came in to the Yes Kirkcaldy office in the High Street on Wednesday and after a “nasty” discussion accused her of “not being from here”.
She told The Courier: “He came in to tell us why we couldn’t be an independent country it happens a lot and I questioned whether he doubted Scotland’s ability to make its own decisions, adding that Scotland was a great country.
“He said he wasn’t criticising Scotland, and said he was Scottish through and through. I told him I didn’t doubt that and he stated, ‘I’m more Scottish than you’.
“When I asked what he meant, he said ‘You’re not even from here.’
“I was a bit surprised by this and asked him for clarification, to which he retorted ‘Look at the colour of your hair and your skin you’re not telling me you’re from here.’
“Admittedly, I’ve just come back from two weeks in Spain and have a bit of a tan, but I don’t think this qualifies me as a foreigner.
“The guy then got really nasty and started shouting about how ‘people like us’ would take over an independent Scotland and we’d soon be ‘ruled by Muslims’.
“I was so stunned, I couldn’t respond, and he stormed out of the shop.
“One of our other volunteers who came in later is a retired police officer and he said I should report it to the police as racist abuse is a crime.
“However, since I didn’t get the guy’s name, I’m not sure what they could do about it.”
Marie, who works as a college lecturer, said she had reported the matter to the police.
Police have said they will check footage from the CCTV camera on the High Street outside the shop and see if they can identify the man.
Marie added: “Funny thing is, he was quite a well-spoken, middle class guy. I hope the police get him they certainly seemed to take my complaint seriously.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police Scotland can confirm that officers in Kirkcaldy are investigating. Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101.”