Taking a Pounding
I’m sure I can blame someone at PubAffairs, but the last time I was asked to write about the Week in Scotland, it was just after the last major UK-wide piece of news on the Scottish Independence referendum, the launch of the White Paper, “Scotland’s Future.” So I am at pains to avoid repeating myself this time around as George Osborne announced that there would be no currency union in the event of Scotland voting “Yes” in September.
This was followed-up by the announcement from the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP, and Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls MP, that both the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats would also adopt this approach.
The predominant reaction to the three days of wall-to-wall coverage of the Chancellor’s announcement, along with the statement by European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, that Scotland would not automatically join the EU, has been that of a near disaster for the “Yes” campaign. And it is certainly hard to see how their response as anything more than uncharacteristically rushed, with Nicola Sturgeon’s interview with Andrew Neil being held up by many as Exhibit A.
However, there have been those, such ask Kevin McKenna, arguing that the show of unity from Westminster could produce the exact opposite reaction. Expect a poll to come out in the next few days that will give a better insight in to what, if any movement, the announcement and coverage might have.
Children’s Bill
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It is sometimes hard for those working in Public Affairs to see beyond the political fights to the real policy achievements made by governments of all political hue and regardless of petty party squabbling. This week we had the pleasure of watching the Scottish Parliament also passed the Children and Young People Bill which will increase free child care and provide support for young people in care.
Orbit Communications have been working with the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition to strengthen support for care leavers in the final Act. We are delighted that, working with a number of other charities and bodies, the Scottish Government agreed to include a measure meaning that, from April 2015, teenagers in either residential care, foster care or kinship care will have the right to continue to receive this care until the age of 21. This is a simple but vital measure that will increase the life chances for young people and we are proud to have played a small part.
Assisted Suicide
Not quite this week, but last month, Orbit Communications began working on the launch of an independent campaign to support Margo MacDonald MSP’s Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill. The campaign, My Life, My Death, My Choice was launched on 28 January with a poll showing 69% of Scottish people in favour ensuring extensive media coverage. We are planning a series of national and local events, including at all four Scottish Spring conferences, that will generate additional coverage and support as the Bill begins its process through the Scottish Parliament.
Graeme Downie
Director, Orbit Communications