You won’t turn No to Yes by sticking head in sand

THE question of another referendum on independence looms over everything in Scotland. I voted Yes in 2014 but I have my doubts about the wisdom of pressing for a second vote this year.

Unfortunately, for some it seems that not wanting a referendum in the next 12 months is evidence that you are not really serious about indy.

My hunch is that the mood in the country where indy is concerned is rather different to the one often found on pro-indy social media.

This rush to hold another vote on Scotland’s future ignores the fact many Scots are still not convinced.

A section of the Yes movement is far more comfortable making assumptions about unionist motivations than confronting the reality – many people who voted No wanted to vote Yes but felt we dodged too many of their questions. That we dismissed too many of their fears.

The diehards aren’t doing a great job of conveying that they are listening to anyone but themselves.

Being tone-deaf to the diverse opinions and concerns found in the very country they claim to care (and know) so much about comes far more naturally.

There is a political reality that must be confronted whether ultra-nationalists like it or not – many of the issues that concerned soft No voters last time remain, largely, unaddressed.

Indy-ultras have a tendency to dismiss this fact, believing most of the questions around currency, the deficit, borders and the potential debt burden (should we leave the

UK) arise from unionist scare stories and fabrications.

Some unionist arguments are certainly exaggerated for effect but writing them all off as lies is less a strategy and more a form of denial.

The demand for a shotgun referendum is based, in part, on the assumption that Brexit has done the remaining political legwork for the Yes movement.

That’s hardly a position of strength.

While the Brexit factor has certainly swayed some Scots to reconsider independence, I suspect the next iteration of Better Together (if you can imagine such a thing) will be keen not to simply re-run the difficult questions many believe we ducked last time but also to draw a clear parallel between Brexit and Scottish independence.

As a line of attack, this could prove extremely effective and the more disastrous Brexit becomes, the more it could backfire on the

Yes movement, which is why more time and reflection is required.

Independence is not, for most people, its own justification. What the hardcore nationalists calling for IndyRef2 tomorrow need to realise is that they have no bargaining power.

Their support for independence is something the SNP takes for granted.

That’s why their hot-tempered demands will continue to be politely ignored.