Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Sportsmen and sleights of hand: Indyref enters the final frenzy

Just a few days now until it’s all over, and those against Scottish independence are trying every option. David Beckham has written of the ‘common bond’ between English and Scottish sportsmen, the Queen has offered as much of an intervention as is possible when she is remaining officially neutral, while David Cameron is going from emotional heart-thumping to severe, reminding Scots that, in the words of the Sky remix, we are never, ever, ever, getting back together if they vote to leave.

Will this work with the half million undecideds that everyone’s pitching for? An appeal to a shared culture and a threat? Or will the SNP persuade more with their emotive vision of what Scotland could be like. One of the most persuasive, misleading and difficult to rebut lines in this campaign has been the repeated references by ‘Yes’ campaigners to the number of food banks in Scotland.

Isabel Hardman
Written by
Isabel Hardman
Isabel Hardman is assistant editor of The Spectator and author of Why We Get the Wrong Politicians. She also presents Radio 4’s Week in Westminster.

Topics in this article

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in