EDINBURGH, November 18 (Sputnik), Mark Hirst — An English-born member of the Scottish Parliament dismissed claims made on Tuesday by David Coburn, member of the European Parliament for the Ukip party, that the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) "generate hatred against the English".
"David Coburn's increasingly ludicrous comments are a perfect example of why his party is languishing in the polls in Scotland – and why support for the SNP is surging," Nigel Don, who was born in London, but represents the Scottish constituency of Angus North and Mearns, told Sputnik.
Don was responding to claims made by Coburn to Sputnik that Scotland had become divided following the Scottish independence referendum held on September 18 and that the SNP were "a racist party".
"Salmond has caused division. He has divided a nation. People have fallen out with members of their own family. A quarter of Scots never want another referendum ever again," Coburn told Sputnik earlier on Tuesday.
Coburn, who despite representing Scotland at the EU Parliament, resides in England's capital London, added that outgoing First Minister of Scotland and former SNP leader Alex Salmond "tried to generate hatred against the English".
"I think the SNP are a racist party and don't like the English and have left a taint of racism on the Scots," Coburn told Sputnik.
But Don, one of six English-born members of the Scottish parliament for the SNP, hit back, stating that "the referendum was an extraordinary, empowering example of participatory democracy at its finest, reflected in the record turnout".
This is not the first time the SNP has been accused of Anglophobia. In 2012 former UK Conservative leadership candidate and parliament member John Redwood accused the SNP of "using the EU against England," adding that "it is an anti-English movement more than it is an independence movement." The First Minister's Spokesman, Kevin Pringle, described Redwood's remarks as "ill-informed and ill-judged."
Around 9 percent of Scottish residents were born in England according to the 2011 official census figures.
On September 18, voters in Scotland rejected independence in a referendum by a margin of 45 percent for and 55 percent against.
