Hague says claims of anti-independence plea to Russia are ‘ridiculous’

William Hague has dismissed as “ridiculous” reports the UK Government tried to recruit Vladimir Putin in its fight against Scottish independence.

First Minister Alex Salmond accused the Conservative party of “underhand tactics” after Itar-Tass, Russia’s state-owned news agency, reported Westminster officials were “extremely interested” in referendum support from the country.

The former Soviet Union’s official news agency claimed that an aide to Prime Minister David Cameron had warned a Yes vote could “send shockwaves across the whole of Europe”.

However, when pressed on the issue on Friday, Foreign Secretary Mr Hague said: “The idea circulating that we are asking President Putin to intervene in some way to win hearts and minds is quite ridiculous, let me be clear about that.”