Ayesha Hazarika Unionists must learn from Remain disaster

Sneering at supporters of independence is not going to help the cause of unionism

ast Friday, when we finally left the EU, already feels a lifetime ago. As a staunch Remainer and proud Scot, I was delighted to be in Glasgow away from braying mobs of jubilant Brexiteers in Westminster. I had no problem with them partying – I just didn’t want to be anywhere near it.

Not only because no doubt I would have been told to go home or eff off at some point, but I’m kind of used to that. It was more that it would have brought back some recent, now rather cringing memories of hosting big rallies for the People’s Vote. We all had a lovely time but my God, don’t they feel a colossal waste of time in hindsight?

Do I regret giving so much time to the cause of a second referendum? No, I passionately believed it was the right thing to call for, and it was a nice day out. Should we all learn from its failure? Absolutely. Which takes me to Scotland. I wandered around on Friday feeling very low and expecting everyone I encountered to feel the same. Not so.

Everyone I met was just getting on with their everyday business. The lady at the local shop asked me what was wrong. “Brexit” I murmured mournfully. She laughed, “Forget it doll, bring on Scexit.” I was about to start lecturing her about the oil price, the possibility of a hard border and the need to bring down the deficit via public spending but the sheer, glistening glee stopped me in my tracks.

This was not the moment. This woman who is beyond excited about Scottish independence was not going to be, in any way, persuaded by my legitimate but depressing doomsday witterings.

I watched unionist colleagues I admire gloating on social media about a poll which put support for independence at 51 per cent. I saw people tweeting about how “hilarious” it was that on the day Britain was leaving the EU, the SNP could only manage 51 per cent. Calling people who want independence stupid and mocking a poll doesn’t strike me as the most intelligent way to build an argument. I mean, it worked so well for us Remainers, right? Of course there are important economic realities that must be explained and explored, and claims by pro-independence figures must be scrutinised. But failing to understand the political, cultural and emotional currents would be astonishingly myopic and selfdefeating for unionists. Campaigns aren’t won by arid statistics and negativity. The other big mistakes unionists risk is assuming all independence supporters are SNP fans. The Yes movement is broader than the SNP. “I’m for independence – that doesn’t mean I love the SNP,” one person told me. The collapse of Labour means there is no alternative, particularly for progressives who want independence.

But the biggest drag anchor on unionism is Boris Johnson.his lack of respect for Scotland and the First Minister as revealed by his alleged comments about the Krankies fuels that. Every time Johnson denigrates Scotland is a shot in the arm for Yes. The pro-indy movement will leap on any Johnson misspeak or slur as a “message to Scotland”.

This fight is far from over and independence is by no means a done deal. There are silent unionists who feel highly anxious about separation. But to have any chance of success, the No campaign must learn the lessons of the disastrous Remain campaign. Unionists need a better narrative and better voices. And most importantly they need a more positive, humble strategy which is sensitive, sophisticated and spirited not just a bunch of spreadsheets with a sprinkle of sneer.