It’s been a pretty big few weeks in the referendum debate. The arguments around the currency and membership of the European Union that have been rumbling along since mid-2012 have come to a head in what’s being described as the nationalists’ worst period of the campaign.

First, all three candidates to be the next chancellor of the UK ruled out a eurozone-style currency union between a separate Scotland and the rest of the UK. This idea is a central plank of Alex Salmond’s separation plans. Despite describing the UK pound as a ‘millstone around Scotland’s neck’ and advocating adopting the euro not too long ago, Salmond has seen the polling and now he’s a big sterling fan.

The nationalists’ entire white paper manifesto for breaking up the UK is predicated on a sterling union between an independent Scotland and the UK. However, the wheels began to come off that particular wagon with the Bank of England governor’s speech a few weeks ago. Mark Carney was clear that countries must ‘cede sovereignty’ to have a successful currency union. But Carney had barely jumped back on his train home before the Scottish National party leadership had said that a separate Scotland would have 100 per cent fiscal independence. It doesn’t take an economist to work out those statements don’t add up.

Then the chancellor, shadow chancellor and chief secretary all ruled out a currency union and Salmond is a man without a plan. His response to all this? Well, he says that it’s all bluff and bullying. Now, nice alliteration that might be, but when you’re asking people to back your separation plans in less than seven months’ time it’s a response that’s nowhere near good enough.

Then things got worse for the nationalists: the EU got involved. Given the first minister’s past form on this issue this was never likely to be a welcome intervention from his point of view.

Back in 2012 Salmond said he had legal advice that proved all of his EU claims. It turns out, after a lengthy battle with the information commissioner and a £20,000 court battle (paid for by taxpayers), he didn’t have any legal advice whatsoever and the response was unequivocal – ‘EU Liar'(courtesy of the Sun).

So with that in mind you can understand why the first minister may have had a few apprehensions when he heard European commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, would be on Sunday’s Marr Show. Barroso said a separate Scotland’s EU entry would be ‘extremely difficult, if not impossible’. Then this week the European council president said ‘I agree with President Barroso’ – just to make things even clearer.

These two interventions serve to highlight the cost of the nationalist assertion that has been the hallmark of their campaign since the get-go. They may try to dismiss every independent expert’s advice as ‘scaremongering’ or ‘ludicrous’, but, ultimately, their ill-thought-out plans are crumbling.

In contrast, Better Together are going to be taking our message of security and stability to people in Scotland from now until September. We’re expanding our grassroots campaign and we want you to be part of it. Wherever you are in the UK, you can sign up to Blether Together, our cutting-edge online phonebank, today speak to those crucial undecided voters, and help us to keep Scotland a strong part of the UK. Just head to bettertogether.net to sign up.

And David Bowie, if you’re reading, you can sign up too.

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Ross MacRae is communications officer at the Better Together campaign and writes the Better Together column for Progress. He tweets @RossMacRae

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Photo: Ewan McIntosh