Few political ideas have gained as much traction with the public as Project Fear.

Its genesis came during the 2014 independence referendum as a shorthand for the Better Together campaign’s strategy of focusing on the disastrous economic consequences of separation.

In the 2016 EU referendum, it returned to the fore, this time from the Remain campaign, who repeatedly warned of the disastrous economic consequences of Brexit.

In both cases, nationalist critics – Scottish then British – argued that this was a hyperbolic attempt to scare voters from following their instincts.

In both cases, the Project Fear arguments for the status quo were contrasted with the apparently positive arguments for change.

If people thought this style of campaigning was finished, or merely limited to issues of major constitutional change, however, they are wrong.

In the 2024 General Election, the SNP has not just dusted off the Better Together playbook, but the nationalists have written several additional chapters too.

Take, for instance, Stephen Flynn’s announcement this week that – if re-elected – he would introduce a bill within the first 100 days of the new parliament to “protect the NHS” from what he claims are the........

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