Downing Street has denied there is a split between the UK Government and the Better Together campaign after “senior Conservatives” reportedly branded campaign chief Alistair Darling “comatose”.
Despite the No campaign leading polls, newspapers carried quotes suggesting some Tories thought the former Chancellor was responsible for a “lacklustre campaign”.
One is reported to have said: “Alistair Darling has never run a campaign. He is comatose most of the time.”
Figures such as Gordon Brown, Michael Gove or Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt were apparently suggested as replacements for Mr Darling.
The Courier understands the “trouble making and gossip” has barely registered with Mr Brown, while David Cameron’s official spokesman said the Prime Minister “thinks Alistair Darling is absolutely the right person to lead the campaign and he has the highest regard for the way in which he is doing it”.
A UK Government cabinet minister apparently also said the No campaign “could be in real danger”.
The SNP said the reports are evidence those trying to keep the union are “fighting like ferrets in a sack”. MSP Stewart Maxwell said: “The No camp has failed to present any positive vision for Scotland, and now the knives are out for Alistair Darling.
“But as we saw with the sacking of Michael Moore and his replacement by Alistair Carmichael, the problem for the No campaign isn’t the messengers it’s the message.
“Not only are people in Scotland becoming fed up with Mr Darling’s inability to offer something positive, but the UK Tory Government, who are calling the shots in the No campaign, are clearly getting anxious about the prospect of a Yes vote.”
A senior campaign insider with Better Together said: “On the day that a second poll in a week shows that only a quarter of people support Scotland leaving the UK, we have unnamed sources criticising Alistair Darling. They are completely detached from reality.”
A Number 10 source said: “We are baffled by this. We do not recognise these concerns at all.”
A Tory insider added: “When we were casting around for a figure to lead this, we could think of no one better than Alistair and that remains the case.
“This was meant to be Salmond’s big week and they are no better placed in the polls than before the white paper.”