People in Scotland will find it hard to swallow Cameron's last-minute 'vow' of fairness, says Blair Jenkins

David Cameron’s ‘vow’ of fairness to Scotland in return for a No vote on Thursday was derided today as a ‘cynical gesture’ from an increasingly panic-stricken prime minister.

Yes Scotland Chief Executive Blair Jenkins said: ‘People across Scotland will find it very hard to swallow promises of “fairness” from David Cameron – a Tory Prime Minister who has imposed unwanted and punitive policies such as the Bedroom Tax, nuclear weapons based here in Scotland and tax cuts for the very richest in society.

‘It is the policies of David Cameron’s government that have seen rocketing use of food banks, policies that threaten to push an additional 100,000 Scottish children into poverty by 2020, according to the Child Poverty Action Group. These are policies which Scotland has rejected, but which we have to put up with anyway under the present system. There’s nothing fair about that.’

The pledge to be fairer to Scotland was among a litany of vague promises of more powers for Holyrood from Mr Cameron, his deputy Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband – three days before the country goes to the ballot box.

Mr Jenkins dismissed the 11th hour “offer” of a “cynical and increasingly desperate” No campaign.

He added: ‘The truth is that without independence, Scotland’s future remains in the hands of Westminster politicians like David Cameron, who carry very little support here and were not elected by the people of Scotland. That seems to guarantee more of the same, which is certainly not a fairer Scotland.

‘Independence will not magic up a fairer Scotland overnight, but most of us can accept that Labour or SNP led governments in Scotland are more likely to pursue an agenda of social justice than interchanging Labour or Tory led governments at Westminster. As we know from experience, the best Westminster can manage seems to be one step forward followed by two or three steps back.

‘Westminster control of economic and social policy has created one of the most unequal countries in the world. The Westminster system benefits the few, which is why the voices of privilege have been loudest in its defence.

‘The best way to create a fairer, better Scotland is to work for it ourselves. A Yes will give us crucial new powers, including job-creating powers, and that means we can do more to make Scotland’s vast wealth work better for the people who live here. More jobs and fairer wages – those are the best guarantees of decent standards of living for people here in Scotland.’