At least a year ago they started with meetings to get people involved and I imagine to sign up early campaigners. They then issued this massive tome - the White Paper. I doubt many people ploughed their way through that !
But the thing that they have done is that each person involved in the campaigning has probably felt valued. And part of a team ! And each one puts their little Yes logo on their Twitter profile and feels good as they have seen the light ! The same happens with stickers in the windows of houses etc.
And even better they have had tea and cakes sessions - coffee mornings etc.
And then finally a classic move, there was a Wee Blue book issued which obviously summarised the main issues. I am not sure if this was part of the official campaign, but it was issued by a campaigning organisation Wings over Scotland. But in a clever move, whether deliberate or not, it was under-supplied, hence upping the demand for it and people have been asked to pass it on to others once they have read it - a classic move to increase value !
Contrast this with the No Campaign....
The only time we have heard from them really is to tell us that we can't keep the Pound. This argument goes on and on ..... and if you look into it I suspect they are wrong as the pound is backed by oil money .......
I did feel Alistair Darling did a good job in arguing a rather thankless case - arguing for a country that is not even run by his party ! And which really has a pretty dire vision for the future, if any !
Some No voters have had their mind made up from the start, for a variety of religious or cultural reasons. Perhaps some think they have the right answer and are as bad as the convinced Yes people in that they are not willing to even contemplate the other view. At least the Yes ones have the excuse that they are living in that future at the moment !
No voters seem to be more likely to keep quiet about their intentions and dont go in for displaying window stickers etc. I don't know why this is. The only ones I have seen making an obvious display seem to also support a certain Glasgow football team or else are very large landowners and display their No signs or their "Proud to be Scottish but Voting No" signs in large fields often with busy roads nearby so getting lots of viewers ! Of course some people are committed No voters as they may have a lot at stake e.g. if they work in England or have cross border families.
What I don't understand is why the No campaign has not focussed on what we have in common. A shared past (for the last 300 years), taking in WW1 and WW2. There are numerous cross border links, in families and work lives. These intermingled threads could be difficult to disentangle. And if the countries head in different directions politically that could be even harder.
And, I did offer the Better Together "No" campaign what I thought was a great idea for a TV programme. I contacted them way back when there was still time to make such a programme. Actually this programme idea would have worked possibly for Yes as well but at least it would have increased cross border communication and understanding. The programme could have been in a sort of reality TV style format, introducing e.g. a farmer from NE of Scotland to a farmer in Somerset, a fisherman from Lochinver to a fisherman from Cornwall, a teacher from Glasgow with a teacher from London, etc. Other interesting ones would be bankers, doctors, etc. Anyone from areas where EU subsidies etc have had quite different effects in the different parts of the country. What problems do the people share and what advantages do some have.
So it remains to be seen which campaign has done best at presenting their side ! Both are kept within tight constraints with regards to rules and amount of money that can be spent on campaigning. But it has been interesting and possibly in fact informative to watch the campaigns !!
That was an interesting point about the No campaign not making more of our shared experiences ie WW1 and WW2. I know that you have to take into account that it was George Galloway but when he mentioned WW2 in the Big Debate it seemed to get the biggest boo of the whole event.
ReplyDeleteIt would appear among younger voters in particular that doesn't seem to have the same level of resonance. As a fast ageing No voter who remembers all that 80s music in your other article it seems to me a real example of how all four countries within the UK are stronger (nearly said better together there but resisted) when they are united in a common cause.
Or I could be over analysing it maybe it was just the fact that you are supposed to boo the pantomime villain. And whatever else you say about him Mr Galloway at least dressed for the part.
Incidentally didn't really want to select the anonymous tab but couldn't get any of the others to work.