Mr Robertson, SNP’s former deputy leader and current MP, has been hit with furious criticism for his “disgraceful” comments after he said “55,000 predominantly No supporting older voters passing away every year”. He said this, combined with “55,000 predominantly Yes supporting 16-year-olds joining the electorate”, had produced a “gain of over 100,000 for independence” since the 2014 referendum.
Writing for the National, the former SNP Westminster leader said recent polls had shown a “gradual rise in support for independence”.
He wrote: “This could be significant partly because of the underlying change in the electorate, with roughly 55,000 predominantly Yes supporting 16-year-olds joining the electorate and 55,000 predominantly No supporting older voters passing away every year.
“Since 2014, this has added around 330,000 voters to the electorate, with a likely net gain of over 100,000 for independence.”
But his comments sparked outrage, with Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross branded them as “deeply disappointing”.
He tweeted: “Disgraceful and deeply disappointing comments from @AngusRobertson – suggesting that the most vulnerable age group, who have been hardest hit through the tragic loss of so many lives throughout the pandemic, are a boost to his independence obsession.
“A new low for the SNP.”
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Scottish Tory MP Maurice Golden urged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to intervene.
He said: “Senior SNP figure Angus Robertson commented that elderly Scots dying was a ‘gain’ for independence.
“Appalling that it’s not a question of when but if the First Minister will condemn these vile comments.”
Monica Lennon, Scottish Labour’s health spokesman, added: “Thousands of people have been banned from family funerals… Covid-19 cases rising, but the man tipped as a successor to Nicola Sturgeon thought this was OK.”
However Mr Robertson dismissed the criticism, saying it was “politically motivated”.
He said: “I have two elderly parents and like everyone else want the best for them and all older people.
“I was presenting simple statistical facts about the support for independence amongst different generations in changing society.
“This manufactured outrage and attack on me is demonstrably politically motivated.
“Andy McIver, the former head of communications for the Scottish Tories and I made exactly the same point in different articles on the same day.
“The fact that Tories have only attacked me tells you everything you need to know”.
