Mr Jenkins played a high-profile role at the Yes Scotland launch but also made
a major gaffe by admitting the campaign was asking a million Scots to sign a
new declaration of independence without being told the facts about
separation.

He appeared to backtrack on this yesterday after his appointment as chief
executive. “This is a once-in-a lifetime campaign for me, personally, and
for the people of Scotland,” he said.

“They will be asked to make the most important decision for the future of our
nation in more than 300 years and I am totally committed to ensuring they
have the best possible information to help them make the right choice.”

Mr Jenkins said the Yes Scotland campaign will belong to the people and “will
not be dominated by party politics”.

However, the campaign is relying on the SNP for funding. The Nationalists are
expecting to have a fighting fund of up to £4 million thanks to hefty
donations from a couple who won the Euromillions lottery.

Announcements on the other members of the campaign’s advisory board will be
made in the next few days, with a senior SNP figure expected to fill the
post of treasurer.

Among the other positions that will be filled are head of research. However,
the campaign has appointed a PR agency to conduct its communications that
has previously worked for Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, and Mr
Whyte during his controversial tenure at Rangers.

Mr Canavan said he was “pleased and honoured” to have been named chairman. He
said: “We shall take this campaign to every part of the country in order to
win the hearts and minds of the people of Scotland to the cause of
independence.”

Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said: “I wish Dennis
well. He certainly has tough job ahead of him trying to keep together the
disparate motley crew that makes up the nationalist campaign.”

Richard Baker, a Labour MSP, said: “We welcome the first in what we believe
will be a series of relaunches of the separation campaign.”