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Scottish independence: this week in the referendum campaign Scottish independence: this week in the referendum campaign
(35 minutes later)
Monday evening found me in a rainy Helensburgh for Campaign Bites, talking to volunteers at a Blether Together telephone canvassing event.Monday evening found me in a rainy Helensburgh for Campaign Bites, talking to volunteers at a Blether Together telephone canvassing event.
The comments thread on this blog is well worth a read, byraway.The comments thread on this blog is well worth a read, byraway.
My own blogging is put to shame, however, by this brilliantly comprehensive report from the Broughton Spurtle, a local Edinburgh news site, about a debate at Edinburgh Academy organised by Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council.My own blogging is put to shame, however, by this brilliantly comprehensive report from the Broughton Spurtle, a local Edinburgh news site, about a debate at Edinburgh Academy organised by Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council.
Writing in the Herald early in the week, David Torrance challenged the SNP's commitment to tackling inequality. Writing in the Herald last week, David Torrance challenged the SNP's commitment to tackling inequality.
A day later, Labour Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran argued in a speech in Glasgow on Tuesday that the debate on inequality in Scotland had been "shut down" because of the SNP's obsession with defining Scotland in comparison to England. Worth a read in the context of Labour Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran who argued in a speech in Glasgow on Tuesday that the debate on inequality in Scotland had been "shut down" because of the SNP's obsession with defining Scotland in comparison to England.
Here, Patrick Harvie of the Greens points out that it’s less than two weeks since Curran's Scottish Labour colleagues at Holyrood supported a Green-led debate on the very issue of inequality.Here, Patrick Harvie of the Greens points out that it’s less than two weeks since Curran's Scottish Labour colleagues at Holyrood supported a Green-led debate on the very issue of inequality.
Also on Tuesday, the Church of Scotland's debated independence with the shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander and the Rev Doug Gay.Also on Tuesday, the Church of Scotland's debated independence with the shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander and the Rev Doug Gay.
It says more about me, I'm sure, that I was struck by how much laughter there is in the proceedings of the Assembly as I sat in the public gallery waiting for the main debate to begin.It says more about me, I'm sure, that I was struck by how much laughter there is in the proceedings of the Assembly as I sat in the public gallery waiting for the main debate to begin.
Post hoc, Lesley Riddoch and Chris Whatley discuss the role of religion in the referendum in illuminating fashion at The Conversation.Post hoc, Lesley Riddoch and Chris Whatley discuss the role of religion in the referendum in illuminating fashion at The Conversation.
The results of Thursday's European Parliament - not counted til this Sunday - will inevitably be seen in the context of September's referendum, not least because many are predicting that turnout will go beyond the usual desultory 30 per cent on account of increased engagement prompted by the referendum campaign.The results of Thursday's European Parliament - not counted til this Sunday - will inevitably be seen in the context of September's referendum, not least because many are predicting that turnout will go beyond the usual desultory 30 per cent on account of increased engagement prompted by the referendum campaign.
As you all doubtless know already, Scots will elect six MSPs: in the last Euro elections the SNP and Labour won two seats each, with the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats taking one.As you all doubtless know already, Scots will elect six MSPs: in the last Euro elections the SNP and Labour won two seats each, with the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats taking one.
Polls suggest that the backlash against the Lib Dems for entering into coalition with the Tories extends north of the border, and Alex Salmond declared that the fight for the final seat was between the SNP and Ukip.Polls suggest that the backlash against the Lib Dems for entering into coalition with the Tories extends north of the border, and Alex Salmond declared that the fight for the final seat was between the SNP and Ukip.
The SNP's third European candidate is a Muslim businesswoman, Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh, a former Tory council candidate.The SNP's third European candidate is a Muslim businesswoman, Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh, a former Tory council candidate.
She told the Guardian last week:”Ukip are mentioned frequently in discussions on the doorstep. “It's a matter of concern for the community and the first minister is right to be concerned about it.”She told the Guardian last week:”Ukip are mentioned frequently in discussions on the doorstep. “It's a matter of concern for the community and the first minister is right to be concerned about it.”
Writing on What Scotland Thinks, Professor John Curtice notes:Writing on What Scotland Thinks, Professor John Curtice notes:
If Ukip do indeed manage to come first across Britain as a whole, but fail to pick up a seat in Scotland, the Yes campaign can be expected [to say] that this shows how very different the values of Scotland from those held by voters south of the border - and thus illustrates why Scotland should seek to govern itself.”If Ukip do indeed manage to come first across Britain as a whole, but fail to pick up a seat in Scotland, the Yes campaign can be expected [to say] that this shows how very different the values of Scotland from those held by voters south of the border - and thus illustrates why Scotland should seek to govern itself.”
Indeed, this morning on the wireless the SNP's Stuart Maxwell told Good Morning Scotland that the council results were an indication of a "very different political culture" emerging in England as opposed to Scotland, distinguishing between the progressive vision offered by the Scottish government and the "UKip-driven" agenda down south.Indeed, this morning on the wireless the SNP's Stuart Maxwell told Good Morning Scotland that the council results were an indication of a "very different political culture" emerging in England as opposed to Scotland, distinguishing between the progressive vision offered by the Scottish government and the "UKip-driven" agenda down south.
Here, mild-mannered comedian Brian Limond sums up the mood of some...Here, mild-mannered comedian Brian Limond sums up the mood of some...
Elsewhere, the campaign begins in earnest....to get the Proclaimers' Cap in Hand to the top of the charts this September.Elsewhere, the campaign begins in earnest....to get the Proclaimers' Cap in Hand to the top of the charts this September.
This rousing anthem is from their 1988 album Sunshine on Leith.This rousing anthem is from their 1988 album Sunshine on Leith.
Sample lyric: 'I can tell the different between margarine and butter/ I can say 'Saskatchewan"'without starting to stutter/ but I can't understand why we let someone else rule our land/ cap in hand'.Sample lyric: 'I can tell the different between margarine and butter/ I can say 'Saskatchewan"'without starting to stutter/ but I can't understand why we let someone else rule our land/ cap in hand'.
To the iTunes!To the iTunes!