The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Keeping score

Posted on January 30, 2013 by

Scottish Government proposals for regulated referendum spending limits:

YES side: £1,250,000
NO side: £1,500,000
(advantage of £250,000 to NO campaign)

Electoral Commission recommendations for regulated referendum spending limits:

YES side: £2,994,000
NO side: £2,931,000
(advantage of £63,000 to YES campaign)

Oh no! It’s another defeat for the SNP!

Here’s the Guardian on the subject:

“Salmond failed to persuade the commission to cap spending for the two official “yes” and “no” campaigns at £750,000 each, recommending a £1.5m limit for both sides – double the SNP’s recommendations.

That decision could now lead to an angry dispute. Last October, Sturgeon had told the SNP annual conference it would strongly resist moves to allow their opponents to outspend them.”

So let’s just get this straight. The SNP proposed limits that would allow their opponents to outspend them, by a whopping £250,000 (a 20% advantage). The Electoral Commission has instead decided that the Yes campaign must be allowed to outspend the No camp, by £63,000.

Yet the media tells us the SNP will be “angry”, and that there may be a “dispute” over the findings, despite Nicola Sturgeon having said within seconds of the release of the report that the Scottish Government accepted its recommendations in full.

Maybe it’s just us.

34 to “Keeping score”

  1. muttley79 says:

    I don’t know if I can take all these defeats….  😀

    Reply
  2. naebd says:

    Perhaps they were worried about there being not enough money to fully utilise the Yes campaign’s various allowance buckets.

    Reply
  3. Adrian B says:

    The amounts don’t worry me. It all comes down to how effective that you are in getting results from that spending. Something that the Scottish Government have been very good at. The Better Together campaign have demonstrated a scatter gun approach so far – I doubt that will change much, even in the last few weeks of the campaign.

    We have much to smile about today – not so for our opponents. 

    Reply
  4. Norrie says:

    Had to check the figures twice myself been expecting 2 million advantage to No lot. However watch out for qualified others.

    Reply
  5. Cuphook says:

    When the votes are counted, and the result is YES, do you think that the media will announce another defeat for Salmond?
     

    Reply
  6. muttley79 says:

    @Rev Stu
     
    Just took a look at WoS Twitter page.  What is this about Cameron mouthing off at Angus Robertson?  Sounds amusing….  Are the UK government not accepting the EC findings?

    Reply
  7. I keep waiting for the ground to fall out from under our feet. </pessimist>

    Reply
  8. Christian Wright says:

    WHAT ABOUTNTHE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM?

    All this is small beer when compared to the £100m in free adverting the unionist side is receiving and will receive until referendum day. 

    Newspaper article after article that are no better than Unionist press releases; BBC news programming that is akin to a never-ending series Unionist party-political broadcasts.

    Fed daily to the electorate for a period of two years with little to no rebufiltering thug through the din, the officially mandated limits on spending are meaningless. 

    iPad spell-correction/suggestion gone crazy and unable to correct (though can add new text on edit)

    Reply
  9. Dcanmore says:

    @ChristianWright
     
    You are perfectly right of course the MSM are a vehicle for Unionism, so far at least. But I believe the Scottish people are waiting to be sold on Independence, they’re not dense. I believe that because the DON’T KNOWS is growing and it’s growing from the NO percentage. The White Paper should offer Scottish people a lot more than what they’ve got now, especially in monetary terms. Imagine policies where guaranteed projected income from Independence that will allow for a cut in corporation tax, a cut in fuel duty and scrapping of the council tax… that is where the real battle is, the one where it concerns people’s wallets! … and the Unionists know it very well too hence the relentless negative rhetoric, because they know they can’t fight what’s coming! Fear is all they have.

    Reply
  10. Cameron says:

     
    I have to agree with Christian. Although the SG appear to have played a blinder, the official funding is chicken feed compared to the pro-Union MSM, especially the state broadcasting service. Any developments on the BBC’s misreporting of the Irish Minister?

    Reply
  11. Chic McGregor says:

    I heard Darling has enlisted Obama’s successful PR crew, will their fees and expenses come off the Dependency Tendency’s funding allocation?

    Reply
  12. Cuphook says:

    When it comes to funding the Unionists will try every dirty trick in the book. What do they have to lose? If they did manage to get a No vote it’s not as if the referendum would be run again because they overspent.
     
    According to Neal Ascherson, during the 79 referendum, Tory money was laundered through London based Unions who then passed it on to Scottish Labour as good clean Socialist money. How transparent will the No campaign be with their financing?

    Reply
  13. muttley79 says:

    @Cuphook
     
    The Yes side still won in 1979.

    Reply
  14. Bill C says:

    AS and the Scottish Government have played the unionists like a salmon.  Firstly the second question, then the 16/17 year olds, then the actual question and now the funding.  Have to agree with Christian and Cameron though, until the unionist bias of the media is neutralised the spendingl limits are really quite irrelevant.  I really do think it is time for some outside scrutiny of what is going on with our media.
    In my reply to Lucinda Creighton (Irish TD for Europe) I mentioned the media bias and especially the BBC.  I explained that in my opinion, our whole democratic process was being undermined.  I asked that she and the Irish Government “keep a close eye” on the situation and said that we needed friends in Europe. As yet, she has not replied. 

    I am thinking of writing to Alyn Smith SNP MEP as an ordinary member of the Scottish public to ask for advice on how we can tackle the unionist bias of the  media. I really think this is the key to winning the referendum.  Anyone got any thoughts?

    Reply
  15. Cuphook says:

    @muttley79
     
    If the intention was to get a Scottish Assembly it seems a strange kind of victory. at least this time we have a government who will ensure that a Yes vote means just that.

    Reply
  16. Davy says:

    What do those “separatis’s electoral commission’ers” think they are doing ???, the lord High Do’er Ian Davidson will have to have words. 

    Reply
  17. muttley79 says:

    @Cuphook
     
    I meant that without taking the farcical 40% rule into account, over 50% voted Yes in 1979.

    Reply
  18. Cuphook says:

    @muttley79
     
    I know what you meant. I was pointing out that a Yes vote is meaningless unless you have the power to implement it.

    Reply
  19. Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

    “When the votes are counted, and the result is YES, do you think that the media will announce another defeat for Salmond?”

    Of course! Remember, what he REALLY wanted was devo-max.

    Reply
  20. Davy says:

    Perhaps the Scottish Government should request for an independent commission from abroad, to monitior the referendum, they could ensure that our state broadcaster adhere’s to its charter of impartiallity for both sides, and that no political parties are unfairly financing the MSM (outside of electoral commission limits) to promote only their side of the debate. They could report to both Holyrood & westminster on a minimum monthly basis or as required due to circumstances.

    I can hear the (bitter forever) campaigners squealing already.

    Alba Gu snooker loopy!, vote yes.

    Reply
  21. Cameron says:

    @ Bill C
     
    It looks like you are doing your best to turn this in to an international incident. Cracking idea, more power to your elbow sir.
     
    I can only suggest we draw up our own “citizen’s petition”, declaring our justified fears that the democratic process is being undermined by outside interests. We collect 27,001 signatures, before sending it to the EU Commission’s Election Observation Mission or the IDEA Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security. I would not vouch for the impartiality of either organisation, but it would surely be embarrassing to the British state and the unionists. I mean, a citizen’s movement seeking outside assistance to ensure democratic processes are followed.

    Reply
  22. Cuphook says:

    Thanks for reminding me. With him being so duplicitous it’s sometimes difficult to remember that his campaign for independence is a front for the further devolution supported by the Unionists who campaign against it.
     
    I was thinking about how Ruth initially supported the SG’s choice of question and how Darling supported a sterling currency union but somehow they changed their minds. Has anyone been keeping a record of these volte-face?
     
     

    Reply
  23. Cameron
    link to avaaz.org

    Reply
  24. Cameron says:

    @ cynicalHighlander
     
    Great, that’s potentially a very effective vehicle, but how should the petition be worded? I am sure there are plenty of people better qualified than myself to undertake the task, though I would be happy to get things going. I would definitely look for input from other concerned citizens. Kind of a group thinking thing, as opposed to a groupthink thing.

    Reply
  25. Castle Rock says:

    Should Scotland be an independent country’

    No, I want Scotland to be a region of England.

    No, I like being laughed at by other Europeans when I say ‘but we’re already a country’.

    No, I like being told we’re too wee, too poor and too stupid.

    No, I like being ruled by the English Tories.

    No, I like sending my money to Westminster and getting peanuts in return.

    No, I like nuclear weapons stationed next to Glasgow.

    No, I like getting our budgets cut.

    No, I want to Ian Davidson to represent me.

    No, I don’t want my dignity back.

    No, I want the powers of the Scottish Parliament curtailed and sent back to Westminster.

    No, I like UKIP, the EDL and the BNP.

    No, I support Johann Lamont’s Cuts Commission to help get Ed Miliband elected in England.

    No, England will bomb our airports if we vote Yes.

    No, I don’t like free education and an educated workforce.

    Please feel free to add other positives reasons….
     

    Reply
  26. Doug Daniel says:

    Does anyone else think it would have been even more fun if the question had started out as “Do you agree Scotland should remain in the UK?” with the old 40% rule in place? Just to prove a point, like.

    Incidentally, I think Cuphook is right that we should be wary of assuming the unionists will give a toss about sticking to rules. All they need is to get a “no” vote. If it’s decided afterwards that rules were broken, we know from experience that there’ll be fuck all punishment. Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens referendum was a good example – those complaining about unfair funding from big business were written off as sore losers unable to accept the result, the idea being that the extra campaign spending doesn’t REALLY matter (in which case, why bother having limits at all?)

    Reply
  27. benarmine says:

    The ” other registered campaigners ” could be a problem. Is there a list and what are the registration criteria, does anyone know?

    Reply
  28. Bill C says:

    @Cameron – Sounds good to me, count me in. I really like the idea of a “citizen’s movement”.  More than happy to help out with the wording etc.  Any thoughts on how we could take the idea forward?  For example could we set up our internet forum?  I have to confess I have lots to learn re. how the internet could be used to progress our cause, but willing to learn.

    Reply
  29. Cameron B says:

    @ Bill C
     
    I could say the same about myself and t’internet. Perhaps I am hoping for too much, but would Rev. Stuart be able to facilitate?

    Reply
  30. Braco says:

    Forget outside adjudication bodies riding to our rescue. The UK is in the club of nation states and we, as yet, are not. Any ‘independent’ neutral body will be answerable to some international body which will be, as these things are, there to represent the interests of existing Nation States of which the UK is and Scotland, as yet is not. Look to ourselves, convince our electorate through reasoned argument and trust their good sense. After all we have NEVER had a media level playing field to date but still somehow got the message out. Scots have NEVER voted against more powers for Scotland in any of the referenda they have been asked to decide on. So just keep plugging away, ignore the fake headlines and concentrate on the only places that matter, the hearts and minds of the everyday Scots electorate.

    Reply
  31. Robert Kerr says:

    I have already commented on the herald.

    Officially we have a question.

    The nats can add to it unofficially on the doorsteps and as graffiti on posters and walls one extra word…. AGAIN. 

    Reply
  32.   One of the most interesting points for me was the E.C. call for clarification on what a Yes vote would mean and more importantly what a No vote would mean… Has the E.C. put a spike in the “Jam Tomorrow” nonsense that has started to circulate from the onionist press

    Reply
  33. Christian Wright says:

    What I’d like to see is a day, or half day where the entire cybernattery join together to post one question in every forum they frequent, and every blogger to post just one question for one day or half a day, addressed to Alistair Darling:

    WHAT IS YOUR SUBSTANTIVE POSITIVE CASE FOR SCOTLAND REMAINING IN THE UNION?

    The combined weight of a million inquiring minds lifted up and focused upon his reply. It would kill them. They can moonwalk away from an answer, they can send in the dancing monkey, they can hold their breath and blow bubbles, but they cannot disguise their intellectual bankruptcy when it comes to offering any credible response. 

    Reply
  34. Megsmaw says:

    Perhaps those of us on twitter could organise a day where we all tweet Alistair the same question?

    Reply


Comment - please read this page for comment rules. HTML tags like <i> and <b> are permitted. Use paragraph breaks in long comments. DO NOT SIGN YOUR COMMENTS, either with a name or a slogan. If your comment does not appear immediately, DO NOT REPOST IT. Ignore these rules and I WILL KILL YOU WITH HAMMERS.


  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a (mainly) Scottish political media digest and monitor, which also offers its own commentary. (More)

    Stats: 6,758 Posts, 1,217,966 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Bob W on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I’ve found https://xcancel.com/WingsScotland/with_replies to be very reliable.May 19, 13:13
    • Anthem on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Oh I don’t know, the “magic bullet” seems to be working for Farage at the moment. ?May 19, 13:04
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Attention is drawn particularly to the DEFINITIVE KEYNOTE SPEECH BY PROFESSOR ROBERT BLACK KC starting at 1.46.35 into youtube version…May 19, 11:11
    • Stuart MacKay on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “The “Cookie Law” does not cover cookies that are used for the normal functioning of the site – login sessions,…May 19, 10:57
    • Stuart MacKay on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “My point sailed in one ear and out the other. I posted a link about the American constitution – you…May 19, 10:51
    • Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: ““always wish to close down the treaty of union topic by any means possible, even threats to Scotland” Hmmmm. I’m…May 19, 10:42
    • James Cheyne on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Hatey McHateface, I recognise your point on how vunerable infrastruture is especially wire,cables and pipe lines, This does seem to…May 19, 10:24
    • James Cheyne on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Englands parliament will manage to end the so called union, merger annexation by its presumptive arrogance, It does not need…May 19, 09:56
    • Breastplate on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Make sure to check under your bed before going to sleep tonight, John.May 19, 09:49
    • Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “If you say so, James. I’m not really understanding who is threatening who. YL Sah! seemed to be suggesting that…May 19, 09:43
    • James Cheyne on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “If the Act of union was never signed does imply that the UK and intel are an illegal entity, that…May 19, 09:31
    • James Cheyne on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Your statement at 7.36 am regards resources and assets is helpful to the independence supporters in confirming that Scotland is…May 19, 09:11
    • David on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “The haters gonna hate! It never fails to amaze me the amount of hate mail you get from all different…May 19, 07:48
    • Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: ““How about a draft constitution? A set of well defined rules” How about you explain why any Sovereign Scot should…May 19, 07:42
    • Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: ““these resources are only vulnerable if we are independent” It’s not exactly rocket science, YL Sah! At the moment these…May 19, 07:36
    • Young Lochinvar on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “You are left to (academically) wonder how the comfortable status quo for UK/US might alter completely if; 1. Dump the…May 19, 03:01
    • Skip_NC on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Aw come on, I thought that was quite good for a Saturday morning before I’d had my coffee. In my…May 19, 01:35
    • Iain M. Conochie on Well, this is a little embarrassing: ““This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and to analyse traffic. Your IP address and user agent…May 18, 23:42
    • Stuart MacKay on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “This is a (very) long but, interesting read, https://sonar21.com/the-constitution-is-dead-long-live-the-constitution/ It gives you an insight on how constitutional-fundamentalists in America -…May 18, 19:06
    • robertkknight on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Back to business… youtube.com/live/Z2lVgoA6UHQ?feature=shared Fantastic and illuminating. Makes you realise, if you didn’t already, what a dead horse the SNP…May 18, 17:02
    • Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Care to elaborate?May 18, 16:35
    • Chas on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I strongly disagree with the first 3 words in your latest piece of drivel.May 18, 16:22
    • diabloandco on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Yeah Rev , take your own advice and ignore trolls. He’s obviously desperate for attention – a bit like Trump…May 18, 15:17
    • Hatey McHateface on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Well, James, I guess that 318 years and counting is a mere eyeblink in geological terms. In human terms though,…May 18, 15:00
    • 100%Yes on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “@ Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh Thanks, added your site to my bookmarks. It would help if Wings updated Pro-Indy bloggers on his…May 18, 13:59
    • 100%Yes on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “I believe David Henry was saying that the wording of the treaty of Union has recently been changed to say…May 18, 13:44
    • Eagle on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Kelly of course is so full of self righteous anger that he forgets that actually watching it and voting is…May 18, 13:04
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “If anyone has a problem with the above URL link, try this alternative path: SCOTTISH SOVEREIGNTY RESEARCH GROUP CONFERENCE (17…May 18, 13:02
    • James Cheyne on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “100%Yes.. I will away and watch it just now, thanks for the information, I am looking forward to the piece…May 18, 13:00
    • Stuart MacKay on Well, this is a little embarrassing: “Ha, ha the saga of Kelly-gate goes on and on and on. Now we have the prime antagonist lambasting the…May 18, 12:17
  • A tall tale



↑ Top