kenlaidlaw

Is it just me or have I misunderstood what negative campaigning means?

There is a lot of talk about the No campaigns negative approach to the referendum, particularly by the Yes campaign. Apart from some Salmond and Sturgeon bashing I am struggling to find the negative campaigning being carried out. Do I just not understand what is meant by it?

All I have seen so far is the no campaign picking holes in impossible promises and asking serious questions as to the legality and legitimacy of the Yes campaigns “factual” statements. To my mind this is their job, if they are not allowed to attack the assertions made by the “yes” campaign then what are they allowed to do?

You might say that they should be building an argument on what will happen after a no vote. However the No vote is not seeking to change the status quo, that is what the Yes vote is trying to do. To an extent this is what they appear to have started doing with the party conferences that are happening as we speak. But does this mean they should not challenge the assertions of their opposition if they believe them to be false. If something the Yes campaign says is blatantly false then it most definitely should be challenged.

This isn’t negative campaigning, it is not letting your opposition deceive the electorate and I would expect the same response from the Yes camp when faced with half truths and twisted propaganda from the No camp. But this isn’t how the Yes campaign is reacting. Every decision or exposed flaw in their white paper is met with one of several responses

• Bullying
• Scaremongering
• Big Feartie
• It’ll be fine
• Do you want another Tory Government
• You are not a true Scotsman
• The oil will pay for it.
• Your just selfish
• NAH,NAH,NAH,NAH,NAH (while sticking fingers in ears)

None of the above are appropriate responses to valid questions from people who need answers to very real questions and all of them to my mind are what I would define as negative!

There are other arguments for why its ok to Vote yes:-

1. It’s not about Alex Salmond – you know what, yes it is very much about Alex Salmond, he will be the person negotiating the terms of our freedom. Our whole future will be dictated from the outset by what he agrees too.
2. We’ll still be friendly with the rest of the UK. – Will we? Really? As individuals we will be as friendly as we always have been. As nations, the UK will do everything in its power to achieve the best results for itself at the cost of the Scottish people. This is not going to be some cosy deal where UK politicians just give us everything that we ask for.
3. Currency Union will happen – You know what, it may still happen, but only if it really is in the interest of rUK. That may well be the case despite all the potential UK chancellors ruling it out. But after a yes vote they may well see having control of Scotlands fiscal policy in the UK’s interest. I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t be great for an independent Scotland. I’d go as far as saying the only logical reason for Salmond wanting to keep the pound as a linked currency or as a currency union is for votes.
4. To get rid of the Tories – For the same reason that Alex Salmond is not likely to be in power, there is no good reason why you would never see a Tory government in an independent Scotland. They may end up as a third party but could be part of a coalition just as they are now. The people who don’t vote in this country are not the disaffected, they are the people who are quite happy with life as it is (the silent majority), in an independent Scotland that is perceived to be a heavily socialist state, you may just find the Tories come out the woodwork in droves.
5. Scotland will be a richer country than the rest of the UK. If that is true and it is at best arguable. What you are really saying is you no longer wish to share your wealth with a nation that you have stood side by side with for over 300 years. That you have fought and died with and conquered two thirds of the globe with. That you have become a rich and varied land both economically and culturally, the foundations of which were laid long before Oil was found. Is that really how we get a fairer society?

There are many reasons to vote either way in this camp but with both campaigns the spin makes it impossible to read, polls are up and down, the Yes say they are gaining, the no say they are gaining (in truth they appear to be, while both are growing from poll to poll by the same source the gap either remains or grows in No’s favour) but Yes voters are increasing too.

So in conclusion while I’m a no voter and always will be there are only two reasons two vote

Yes – Because you want Scotland to determine its future alone
No – Because you want to be and like being part of the UK.

Without a reliable and neutral source of information the above is the only real choice you have the information to make and I respect whatever choice you make if it is for either of those reasons.

If you are one of those people voting yes because you believe we will all be better off and living in some socialist utopia and free from the oppression of our southern neighbours, I just hope like mad that I am not in a country of your making come September the 19th.