The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Positive-case-for-the-Union roundup

Posted on January 31, 2012 by

(See here for the whole story.)

We need to hear detailed reasons and hard facts about why Scotland is better off as part of the UK — not slogans and scaremongering.
(The Sun editorial, January 2012)

In a speech in Glasgow later today, Ed Miliband will seek to go beyond the process-driven debate over independence for Scotland, seeking to make a positive case for Scotland to remain within the Union.
(Left Foot Forward, January 2012)

Darling – whose reputation was enhanced after he warned of the looming global economic meltdown in defiance of then PM Gordon Brown – said he was determined to make a positive case for Scotland remaining in the UK.
(Sunday Mail interview with former Chancellor of the Exchequer, January 2012)

Questions abound. How will the campaign be structured? Who will lead it? And can it develop a positive case for the United Kingdom?
(David Torrance, commentator and biographer of Alex Salmond, January 2012)

I have a positive vision for Scotland.
(Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour leader, January 2012)

Everyone wants to see positive arguments for the Union, and we will have these in spades.
(Murdo Fraser, Conservative MSP, January 2012)

I am not going to run a campaign that says Scotland cannot survive on its own. I am going to run a campaign — and others will run a campaign — about the advantages of being together. Let’s have a positive conversation, because I think the Union is a very positive thing.
(David Cameron, UK Prime Minister, January 2012)

There is a positive case for the Union.
(Gerry Hassan, Scottish political commentator, January 2012)

We are likely to see the likes of Labour’s Alistair Darling, the Liberal Democrats’ Charles Kennedy and the Tories’ Annabel Goldie playing leading roles in putting a positive case for the Union.
(Leader in The Scotsman, January 2012)

My ten tartan rules for success: 1. Make the positive case for the Union.
(Peter Duncan, former Conservative MP for Galloway, January 2012)

Do we need to bother indicating to you, beloved and attentive readers, whether any of these fine people and publications went on to actually explain what this ever-elusive “positive case” might be? We suspect, all too sadly, that we do not.

 ———————————————————————————————-
TIME ELAPSED: 31 years, 11 months
ACTUAL SIGHTINGS OF POSITIVE CASE FOR UNION TO DATE: 0

———————————————————————————————-

5 to “Positive-case-for-the-Union roundup”

  1. ron edinburgh says:

    here is the positive case for the union! say as many times as you can in any speech the word POSITIVE, ah that's it? good luck! 

    Reply
  2. Jonathan Hallam says:

    Millibad gave something of a positive reason for the Union – saying it would be better for creating fairness. link to scotsman.com
    He's not really backed that up with any reasoning though.

    Reply
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell says:

      Mm. Without any reasoning it’s just another assertion – like “stronger together, weaker apart” – rather than an argument. It’s also a staggeringly obviously flawed assertion – how is the cause of fairness aided by shackling yourself to 10 million Tory voters hell-bent on the opposite? Isn’t it better to have at least SOME parts of the UK governed by progressives rather than none? How is it “fair” to condemn Scottish voters to the misery of Tory rule just because English voters voted for it?

      Reply
  3. Shodan says:

    You are thinking logically, Rev Stu. That is why you're having trouble understanding it. Think more along the lines of a child throwing their toys out of the pram in a tantrum and it makes more sense in that frame of mind. If they can't have it their way, they'd rather no one else had it their way, even if logically should be better than nothing for their (or their party's) point of view. The unionist side is constantly arguing from and acting in a very emotional – near hormonal – manner. When they aren't tugging on heart strings with nostalgic unionist arguments or throwing mud at Alex and comparing him to Hitler/Stalin/Satan they are going to be stamping their feet and insisting that it is better to cut off their nose to spite their face. Even if it benefits them, they'd rather be jobless than let THE ENEMY get credit for this or win a political victory.

    Reply
  4. Tearlach says:

    No longer a "Positive Case" thats needed, but "We need a poetry of the Union to defeat Salmond’s freedom shtick" according to the Tory Graph.
    link to telegraph.co.uk
    "So taking Alex Salmond’s politics apart should be child’s play for any reasonably articulate Tory, and it is therefore all the more depressing that Unionists seem unable to find a language to diminish him."
    Mmm – lets wait and see what they come up with.
     
     
     

    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: 6,722 Posts, 1,214,245 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • PhilM on Live chat update: “Why don’t you get a sandwich board and try and rationalise with the general public about what you believe is…Mar 18, 00:26
    • Young Lochinvar on Live chat update: “Disclosure certificates. That is indeed the crux of the matter, the protection in place to protect the vulnerable. Do these…Mar 18, 00:06
    • sarah on Live chat update: “No, you are not alone in thinking that, Mia. It is only people in power who seem to think it…Mar 17, 23:15
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on Live chat update: “« All we need now is an answer to why they keep doing it anyway. » _______________ Chief-Redactor-and-Keeper-of-State-Secrets John Swinney is bound…Mar 17, 22:57
    • James Barr Gardner on Live chat update: “As they come across as bragging about having been to 40 Primary Schools, would they disclose the names of these…Mar 17, 21:30
    • McDuff on The Unquestionables: “Well done Wings for again exposing the sickening state of the Scottish establishment and their unaccountability to anyone. I cannot…Mar 17, 21:20
    • James Barr Gardner on The Unquestionables: “In Scotland, there is no legal requirement for schools to sing “God Save the King”. As such your child has…Mar 17, 21:01
    • Hatey McHateface on Live chat update: “To be fair, it’s a rare day in Scotland when any Scot out and about in any of our towns…Mar 17, 20:54
    • Jon Drummond on Live chat update: “It is unbelievable that NuSNP have enabled all their Nonce Mates to abuse our children at our expense. No wonder…Mar 17, 20:15
    • Lorn on Live chat update: “Yes, job well done, Rev. The reason they avoid questions is the same reason why they defy the law. They…Mar 17, 19:29
    • Lorn on Live chat update: “No, Mia, you are not alone in thinking that.Mar 17, 19:15
    • mike cassidy on Live chat update: “No There is something in-your-face wrong about a group with ‘youth’ in its name that is involved with people over…Mar 17, 19:15
    • Karen on Live chat update: “Well done. Next time pose as a 13 year old girl and ask them for a chest binder, please.Mar 17, 19:10
    • Andrew scott on Live chat update: “Lets contact our msps and kick up hell about this Obviously not the green gnome, dross greer,maggie chaperson or loopy…Mar 17, 18:57
    • Bob on The Unquestionables: “That amount may also include employer NI and pension contributions, so the actual average salary may be about 70% less…Mar 17, 18:54
    • Mia on Live chat update: “Am I the only one who thinks that 13 to 25 is one hell of an age gap? Am I…Mar 17, 18:44
    • Mia on The Unquestionables: “After reading this article, I am getting even more concerned that these quangos might just be acting as fronts for…Mar 17, 18:10
    • twathater on Live chat update: “Rev in relation to any submissions to FOI requests or Charity commissioners reportings would it not be possible to arrange…Mar 17, 17:58
    • twathater on Meet The FILTH: “Sandy I read your latest response and TBQH I feel sorry for you, you haven’t addressed ANY of the points…Mar 17, 17:44
    • PhilM on The Unquestionables: “Scotland is the land of the cyber dead zone. Page after page on the websites of public bodies dead and…Mar 17, 17:20
    • Grouser on The Unquestionables: “Are parents being told about what is going on in these primary schools? If the school authorities are not telling…Mar 17, 16:42
    • Willie on The Unquestionables: “It is a grim reality that regulatory process does not work. This is no accident. It is deliberate. Citizens are…Mar 17, 16:01
    • John C on The Unquestionables: “LGBTYS are hiding in plain sight.There’s serious allegations about them and lumping 13 year old with adults is an abusers…Mar 17, 15:47
    • Effijy on The Unquestionables: “Here we are 15 years into austerity, credit crunch, recession and cut backs and governments can hand out £60K per…Mar 17, 15:18
    • Chas on The Unquestionables: “‘As you say no one is accountable in Scotland anymore which is a ploy by the unionists to make us…Mar 17, 15:02
    • Mark Beggan on The Unquestionables: “Semper verus.Mar 17, 14:34
    • Mark Beggan on The Unquestionables: “There is no barrier to how low a human being can go.Mar 17, 14:28
    • I. Despair on The Unquestionables: “There is the process of judicial review that can scrutinise and (perhaps) overturn such decisions but there are strict legal…Mar 17, 14:21
    • I. Despair on The Unquestionables: “There is the process of judicial review that can scrutinise and (perhaps) overturn such decisions but there are strict legal…Mar 17, 14:21
    • Patsy Millar on The Unquestionables: “Thank goodness you have the patience to do this and much appreciated. Being a chancer seems to be the required…Mar 17, 14:07
  • A tall tale



↑ Top