Spectator writers on the good, the bad and the ugly moments of the IndyRef

James Forsyth Until that YouGov poll putting Yes ahead, the No camp had steered clear of making an emotional appeal. But in the aftermath of that poll, people—finally—began to speak about Britishness and their pride in it.

At the Usher Hall in Edinburgh last Friday night, a sizable crowd had gathered to hear George Galloway, Danny Alexander, Brian Wilson and Professors MacDonald and Tomkins make the case for No. The audience listened attentively as the economic arguments were made. But it was when speakers began to talk about Britain and their pride in our history that the audience became really engaged. Alexander talked movingly about the people who had come from all over the UK to train in the Highlands for the liberation of Europe.

Then, Gordon Brown arrived. Brown delivered his stump speech with the rhetorical verve that you would expect from the son of the manse. But, again, it was when Brown talked of Britishness—of the common endeavour of the past three hundred years—that the crowd rose to him.