Time to swot up on the EU

Talking Britain down has a grim ring of familiarity

The EU referendum campaign looks set to get into full swing just in time to clash with the business end of the Scottish Parliament election but the question is: do we really care? Several senior sources reckon the vote on our links with Brussels will take place next September, with delicious symmetry to the Scottish independence ballot.

However, it is unlikely there will be anything like the same level of interest in whether or not the UK should be pulled out of Europe as there was around whether or not Scotland should be pulled out of the UK.

It just doesn’t have the same emotional attachment. Who describes themselves as being European when asked about their identity?

That doesn’t mean this referendum is not important, though.

Indeed, when you strip nationalism out of the two questions, it could be argued there would be a greater impact from Britain leaving the EU than there would have been if Scotland had voted for independence.

I’ve been told by folk in the know at Brussels that once David Cameron sets out his list of demands in the coming weeks, a period of renegotiation is likely to rumble on until March.

In all likelihood, that will signify spring being the opening of the campaign “proper” in an attempt to have a relatively short period of full-blown political fisticuffs before we head back to the polls.

This shows some lessons have been learned from the Scottish referendum.

Those on the pro-EU side say they are keen to avoid a drawn-out period of dispute so Nigel Farage, or whoever else ends up spearheading the Leave campaign, doesn’t have the same time Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon had to hammer home their messages.

Outers have already adopted the language of the Yes campaign – “talking Britain down” had a grim ring of familiarity for all of us who dared ask any questions about Scottish independence – and Brussels has at least as many obvious flaws as Westminster to cling on to.

Add to that – taking an average of the last six polls – the suggestion is that 54% of Brits want to remain in the EU, which indicates it won’t take all that much momentum from the Out campaign to get over the line.

The Electoral Commission has also recently said the poll should be delayed by up to a year if 16 and 17-year-olds are given the vote, so they have time to be registered properly.

Does this give a boost to Inners if young people are more likely to vote to stay in? Or does the added time merely give more of an opportunity for Outers to get their message across? I suspect the latter would be happier. Just two polls have asked significant samples of Scots about their views but both put support for remaining part of the European Union at more than 60%.

This suggests there may be a more pro-European view north of the border but regrettably, it is unlikely this means there is less ignorance about the pros and cons of membership.

Instead, the high number of proEuropean politicians means the alternative point of view has barely been made in Scotland, a fact which hardly bodes well for enlightenment on the big issues such as trade, freedom of movement and workers’ rights.

No matter what else is going on in Scottish politics, we need to make sure we’ve swotted up before this crucial vote.

Picture: Getty Images. Pro-European campaigners will be keen to give people like Nigel Farage, pictured, less time to campaign.