Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum (Part 3: The result)

8 snips

Dec 3, 2024

Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland, shares her insights on the Scottish independence referendum, reflecting on the emotions and political upheavals surrounding the vote. She recounts the exhilaration in the SNP as polls hinted at a potential victory for independence, alongside the mounting fears from the British establishment. The discussion touches on the impact of media influence, the emotional aftermath for supporters, and the deeper implications for Scotland's political identity. Sturgeon also highlights how Labour's decisions during this time reshaped their standing in Scotland.

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ANECDOTE

Initial Reaction to the Sunday Times Poll

Nicola Sturgeon felt elated after seeing the Sunday Times poll showing Yes winning.
This was quickly followed by fear of the British establishment's intensified efforts.

INSIGHT

Factors Influencing the Referendum Outcome

The combined impact of several events stemmed the Yes campaign's momentum.
These included the Queen's intervention, banks threatening to leave, and the "Vow."

ANECDOTE

Murdoch's Undisclosed Rally Visit

Rupert Murdoch secretly attended an SNP rally to gauge public sentiment.
His editor influenced his decision to not fully back independence after witnessing the crowd.

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A decade ago, the Scottish people went to the polls for a referendum vote to make a choice: should the country break free of the United Kingdom? Ultimately, they voted to stay by a resounding margin – crushing the hopes of the Scottish National Party and soothing the fears of the British government of the day. But the issue of Independence continues to divide, and in this special miniseries, George Osborne and Ed Balls are joined by the former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to take a fresh, forensic look at the forces, decisions and party politics that drove the independence movement.

With just weeks to go, polling suggested the ‘Yes’ campaign had it, and Scottish voters were going to vote to leave. Nicola Sturgeon reveals the sense of jubilation inside the SNP when the tide began to turn their way, and fear the British establishment was only set to become more ferocious. If the poll had come just a little later, could the ‘Yes’ side have been triumphant? Did the “Vow” – a promise for more devolution powers – make a difference? Who was convinced Rupert Murdoch was going to use his tabloid to support their interests?

Remember to send us your questions in for our special Inside The Room: The Scottish Independence Referendum episode of EMQs. You can send them to questions@politicalcurrency.co.uk

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